title: Diagnosis and management of insomnia.
abstract: The symptom of insomnia concerns not only psychiatrists, but other physicians as well. Most cases of insomnia resolve with the passage of time or when the underlying medical or psychiatric condition is treated. For situational insomnias or psychophysiologic insomnias, consider nonpharmacologic interventions before prescribing a sedative-hypnotic. When a sedative-hypnotic is indicated, the BZs are the drugs of choice because of their better margin of safety and lower potential for abuse. In most cases, limit the use of a sedative-hypnotic to several days to a few weeks.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000175:diagnosis; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol