Abstract

Insomnia is a common condition. People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling asleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep, or light, non-restorative sleep. Daytime symptoms include fatigue, attention and memory difficulties, and irritability. Difficulty sleeping at night is associated with a disturbance in physiological mechanisms that are involved in regulation of sleep. Such a disturbance may be a result of a genetic/dispositional issue. A disturbance may also be produced by a stressful life event, or jetlag, or an illness. Behavioral patterns and attitudes toward sleep may also disturb sleep mechanisms. Often a combination of dispositional, situational and behavioral factors is responsible for insomnia. Various treatment techniques are available that are designed to strengthen sleep mechanisms. These techniques actively engage the person to implement behavioral and cognitive changes that promote healthy sleep.