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Pharmacological Treatment of Insomnia

  • Chapter
Primary Care Sleep Medicine

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Practice ((CCP))

Abstract

The complaint of trouble sleeping is very common in the practice of sleep medicine, and every physician who wants to be known as a sleep specialist should be knowledgeable about insomnia and have an organized and systematic approach to this problem. It has been estimated that 9% of adults in the United States have a complaint of insomnia, although the prevalance may be as high as 22%. Patients with insomnia view their problem in very emotional terms and for them it is very serious. And when patients see improvement, they are very grateful patients. Additionally, a complaint of insomnia increases morbidity in the elderly, for reasons ranging from falls to coronary events. Utilization of health care resources is higher in patients with severe insomnia. Insomnia should be considered a serious complaint from the patient because of the associated impairment of psychosocial function and quality of life. Insomnia can impair daytime alertness, concentration, memory, and ability to carry out daily tasks.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sleep Disorders Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ

    James M. Parish MD, FCCP

Authors
  1. James M. Parish MD, FCCP
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Practice, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Southern Colorado Family Medicine Residency, Pueblo, CO

    James F. Pagel MS, MD

  2. Comprehensive Center for Sleep Medicine Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY

    S. R. Pandi-Perumal MSc

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Parish, J.M. (2007). Pharmacological Treatment of Insomnia. In: Pagel, J.F., Pandi-Perumal, S.R. (eds) Primary Care Sleep Medicine. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-421-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-421-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-992-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-421-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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