ABSTRACT
Chronic insomnia afflicts millions of people in the United States. It is associated
with decreased quality of life, accidents, several comorbid conditions, increased
morbidity, and substantial direct and indirect costs. Chronic insomnia is a multifactorial
and individualized disorder. Its etiology may be cognitive or physiologic in nature
(or both), and is more often than not associated with a comorbid condition, complicating
its recognition, evaluation, and treatment. Effective nonpharmacotherapeutic (cognitive–behavioral
therapy for insomnia) and pharmacotherapeutic (hypnotic medications) treatment modalities
are available. Treatment of chronic insomnia can make a significant improvement in
quality of life, and may also be associated with an improvement in comorbid conditions.
KEYWORDS
Chronic insomnia - sleep - comorbidity - cognitive–behavioral therapy - hypnotic
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David N NeubauerM.D.
Associate Director, Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical
Center
4940 Eastern Avenue, Box 151, Baltimore, MD 21224
eMail: neubauer@jhmi.edu