Insomnia diagnosis and treatment across the lifespan

Treatment options: Start with the nonpharmacologic

Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions are available for the treatment of insomnia. Starting with nonpharmacologic options is preferred.

Nonpharmacologic interventions

Sleep hygiene. Poor sleep hygiene can contribute to insomnia but does not cause it.³¹ Healthy sleep habits include keeping the sleep environment quiet, free of interruptions, and at an adequate temperature; adhering to a regular sleep schedule; avoiding naps; going to bed when drowsy; getting out of bed if not asleep within 15 to 20 minutes and returning when drowsy; exercising regularly; and avoiding caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and other substances that interfere with sleep.²⁴ Technology use prior to bedtime is prevalent and associated with sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances.³⁸

Sleep hygiene education is often insufficient on its own.³¹ But it has been shown to benefit older adults with insomnia.^19,32

Sleep hygiene during pregnancy emphasizes drinking fluids only in the daytime to avoid awakening to urinate at night, avoiding specific foods to decrease heartburn, napping only in the early part of the day, and sleeping on either the left or the right side of the body with knees and hips bent and a pillow under pressure points in the second and third trimesters.^18,39

Pediatric insomnia. Sleep hygiene is an important first-line treatment for pediatric insomnia, especially among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.⁴⁰

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