title: [Differential diagnosis of sleep disorders in old age].
abstract: Somnipathy represents neither an independent disease nor a nosological entity. The simple formulated complaint: "I can't sleep" requires a very detailed investigation of the surrounding conditions, habits and the physiological situation of the patient. Further one has to consider, resp. to rule out a great number of causes of diseases, i.e. those of the internal organs, the central nerve system and the psyche. The majority of cases of somnipathy in elderly patients reveals a treatable cause, of the prescription of hypnotics becomes unnecessary.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology
vernacular_title: Differentialdiagnose der Schlafstörungen im Alter.