DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose insomnia, your doctor will do a thorough physical exam and ask about your medical history as well as your sleep history.

Your doctor may tell you to keep a sleep diary for 1-2 weeks to keep track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day. Your doctor may also ask you to talk to your bed partner about how much and how well you sleep throughout the night.

A diagnosis of insomnia may be made if you have any of the following (not an exhaustive list):

• Predominant complaint of dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality associated with one or more of the following symptoms:
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Waking up early and being unable to return to sleep
• If sleep disturbance causes significant distress in important areas of your life (i.e. social settings, work).
• If you have sleep difficulty despite having the opportunity to sleep.
• If your sleep difficulty is not caused by another sleep disorder, a coexisting mental disorder, or a physical/medical disorder.
• If your sleep difficulty is not caused by side effects from a medication.
• If sleep difficulty occurs at least 3 nights per week and is present for at least 3 months.

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