title: Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.
abstract: Insomnia is a disorder of initiation and maintenance of sleep that results in daytime somnolence. The differential diagnosis of the various forms of insomnia is based primarily on the history, including information from the sleeping partner. The possibility of underlying depression or sleep apnea must be given consideration in every patient with insomnia, because inappropriate therapy may be dangerous in these instances. In general, the benzodiazepines have supplanted the traditional hypnotics in the treatment of insomnia.
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002697:Chloral Hydrate; D014364:Tryptophan