[Sleep disorders. Differential diagnosis and therapy in general practice].
Sleep Disorders are one of the most common complaints of patients seen by general practitioners. Prevalences vary considerably--depending on the kind of research and the definition of sleep disorders--between 4 and 40%. In 2000 the first grand nationwide survey was carried out in primary care settings [1]. 12.3% of the 17,928 questioned stated sleep disorders as the main reason for their consultation, the prevalence of all kinds of sleep disorders being 29%. Like seen in other studies sleep complaints increased with age and predominated significantly in women. In one-third of the sample the differential diagnosis was primary or non-organic insomnia [1] while treatment was mainly conducted by the general practitioner. In two-thirds of the patients sleep disorders existed for more than 12 months while 41%--by their own account--took sleep agents at least once a week. This article gives an overview of the causes and treatment of sleep disorders, particularly therapy of non-organic insomnia.
Weske
G
G
Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychosomatik, Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg.
Voderholzer
U
U
Riemann
D
D
Berger
M
M
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents