Reviews are by family physicians, not experts on the topics. We invite you to comment on the reviews, suggest articles for review, or become a reviewer. Nicholas J.G. Pimlott, MD, CCFP Morin CM, Colecchi C, Stone J, Sood R, Brink D. Behavioral and pharmacological therapies for late-life insomnia. A randomized controlled trial.
Sleep disturbance is very common among elderly people.
1 Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, can involve trouble falling asleep, frequent or prolonged wakening at night, or wakening in the early morning and not being able to return to sleep. If left untreated, chronic insomnia can increase risk of depression and, in elderly people with cognitive impairment, could hasten nursing home placement. Only about one in six seniors with insomnia receive treatment, and most of these are prescribed drug therapy. Evidence indicates that seniors could be receiving a disproportionate number of prescriptions for sedative hypnotics. 3 Evidence also indicates increased risk of falls, hip fractures, and motor vehicle accidents among seniors taking these medications.