The doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health.
To make a diagnosis of insomnia, the doctor will ask about:
- Excessive tiredness or daytime sleepiness
- Problems with attention, focus, or memory
- Social, work, or school problems
- Moodiness or irritability
- Low motivation or energy
- Many errors or accidents at work, or while driving
- Possible related symptoms such as headaches or digestive issues
- Worries about sleep
The doctor will look for possible causes, such as:
- Moods or mood changes
- Physical or mental symptoms or problems
- Daily activities
- Work pattern or history
- Sleep patterns and snoring
- Medicine use
- Travel patterns
- Eating habits
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
A sleep diary can be kept to record sleep patterns.
If the diagnosis is not clear, the doctor may order a polysomnogram (sleep study). Sleep is analyzed during a 1 or 2 night stay in a sleep lab.
References
Insomnia. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/insomnia. Accessed March 15, 2022.
Insomnia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/insomnia. Accessed March 15, 2022
Insomnia. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: https://sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/home. Accessed March 15, 2022.
Insomnia in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/insomnia-in-adults. Accessed March 15, 2022.
Patel D, Steinberg J, Patel P. Insomnia in the elderly: a review. J Clin Sleep Med. 2018;14(6):1017-1024.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA
- Update Date: 03/14/2022