Insomnia comorbidity and impact and hypnotic use by age group in a national survey population aged 16 to 74 years.
OBJECTIVE
To compare age-group differences in somatic/psychiatric comorbidity, impact, and pharmacotherapy associated with sleep disturbance across a broad adult age range.


METHODS
Cross-sectional national mental health survey.


METHODS
Adults living in private households in England, Scotland, and Wales.


METHODS
8,580 people aged 16 to 74 years.


RESULTS
Insomnia (4 symptom/syndrome definitions), depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and daytime fatigue were defined from the revised Clinical Interview Schedule. Any insomnia was reported by 37% of the sample, moderate insomnia by 12%, insomnia with fatigue by 13%, and symptoms fulfilling diagnostic criteria for primary/secondary insomnia by 5%. All categories of insomnia were associated with mental disorders, worse physical health, and fatigue to a similar degree in all decade age groups. The associations between insomnia categories and separated, divorced, or widowed marital status were strongest in younger participants. Insomnia categories were of longer reported duration and more strongly associated with worse physical health-related quality of life (SF-12) in older age groups. For participants with any definition of insomnia, benzodiazepine hypnotics were more commonly reported in older age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between insomnia and impaired quality of life is most pronounced in older age groups. Associations with physical and mental health status and those with daytime fatigue do not vary in strength between age groups. Older people with insomnia in this population were more likely to be taking benzodiazepine hypnotics.
Stewart
Robert
R
King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, UK. r.stewart@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Besset
Alain
A
Bebbington
Paul
P
Brugha
Traolach
T
Lindesay
James
J
Jenkins
Rachel
R
Singleton
Nicola
N
Meltzer
Howard
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012606:Scotland; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014852:Wales
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines