The maximum score is 28, and the higher the score, the worse insomnia. The Insomnia Severity Index consists of seven questions with a score of 1-4. Questionnaires such as the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a tool to aid in the diagnosis of insomnia. The DSM-5 criteria take a descriptive approach based on the frequency and duration of symptoms. The ICSD-III classifies insomnia into three categories: Chronic Insomnia Disorder, Short-term Insomnia Disorder, and Other Insomnia Disorder. The two main classifications systems that define insomnia disorders are the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd edition (ICSD-III), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5). These are measured from two to four weeks and are brought in for the clinician to review. Patients are generally asked to note their sleep patterns such as time in bed, nighttime awakenings, sleep satisfaction, sleep onset latency, and total sleep time. The use of sleep diaries and sleep logs have an essential role in helping to diagnose short-term insomnia. It is also essential to rule out other causes of insomnia, including but not limited to medication or substance use, or medical or mental disorders. Polysomnography testing plays a very limited role, but it can help differentiate sleep apnea and other sleep disorders from short-term insomnia. Įvaluating for short-term insomnia hinges on obtaining a robust sleep history as the diagnosis is made clinically. These subtypes were recently removed in the new ICSD-III. Other previously used subtypes now under chronic insomnia included paradoxical insomnia, idiopathic insomnia, psychophysiological insomnia, inadequate sleep hygiene, among others. Recently, these categories were changed to short-term insomnia, chronic insomnia, and other insomnia. It is important to note that insomnia was previously subdivided into many different types of insomnia, including primary and secondary insomnia. These disturbances with sleep are not related to any other medical disorder, substance use, or prescription use, and the symptoms must be present at least three nights per week for at least three months.

This condition causes distress and impairment in daytime functioning such as fatigue/low energy, daytime sleepiness, impaired attention/concentration, mood disturbances, among other impairments. This article explores short-term insomnia and its various aspects.ĭSM-5 classifies insomnia disorders as dissatisfaction with sleep quantity/quality due to difficulty initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, or inability to return to sleep despite adequate opportunity for sleep. These can be further subdivided into short-term and chronic insomnia. Disturbances of increased sleep latency and the inability to remain asleep are encompassed within the nosological category of insomnia. Sleep is becoming an increasingly precious commodity as more and more people are reporting issues with sleep in our busy society.

Onset insomnia definition