This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Prevalence and Correlates

Glen D. Mellinger, PhD; Mitchell B. Balter, PhD; Eberhard H. Uhlenhuth, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985;42(3):225-232.

Abstract
• Data for this report come from a nationally representative probability sample survey of noninstitutionalized adults, aged 18 to 79 years. The survey, conducted in 1979, found that insomnia afflicts 35% of all adults during the course of a year; about half of these persons experience the problem as serious. Those with serious insomnia tend to be women and older, and they are more likely than others to display high levels of psychic distress and somatic anxiety, symptoms resembling major depression, and multiple health problems. During the year prior to the survey, 2.6% of adults had used a medically prescribed hypnotic. Typically, use occurred on brief occasions, one or two days at a time, or for short durations of regular use lasting less than two weeks. The survey also found a small group of hypnotic users (11% of all users; 0.3% of all adults) who reported using the medication regularly for a year or longer. If we include anxiolytics and antidepressants, 4.3% of adults had used a medically prescribed psychotherapeutic drug that was prescribed for sleep; 3.1% had used an over-the-counter sleeping pill. The majority of serious insomniacs (85%) were untreated by either prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

Author Affiliations
From the Institute for Research in Social Behavior, Oakland, Calif (Dr Mellinger); The Applied Therapeutics and Health Practices Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md (Dr Balter): and the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago (Dr Uhlenhuth).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 2, 1984.

Reprint requests to Institute for Research in Social Behavior, 456 22nd St, Oakland, CA 94612 (Dr Mellinger).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Co-occurrence of Insomnia and Anxiety Disorders: A Review of the Literature
Marcks and Weisberg
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE 2009;3:300-309.
ABSTRACT  

Efficacy of an Internet-Based Behavioral Intervention for Adults With Insomnia
Ritterband et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009;66:692-698.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Natural History of Insomnia: A Population-Based 3-Year Longitudinal Study
Morin et al.
Arch Intern Med 2009;169:447-453.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subclinical Anxiety Symptoms, Sleep, and Daytime Dysfunction in Older Adults With Primary Insomnia
Spira et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2008;21:149-153.
ABSTRACT  

Complaints About Sleep in Trauma Patients in An Emergency Department in Respect to Alcohol Use
Neumann et al.
Alcohol Alcohol 2008;0:agn007v1-agn007.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The effects of an intervention group with the support of non-pharmacological Chinese medicine on older Chinese adults with insomnia: A pilot study
Chan et al.
International Social Work 2006;49:791-803.
ABSTRACT  

Cognitive behavioral therapy vs zopiclone for treatment of chronic primary insomnia in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
Sivertsen et al.
JAMA 2006;295:2851-2858.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Long-term Effect of Insomnia on Work Disability: The HUNT-2 Historical Cohort Study
Sivertsen et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2006;163:1018-1024.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Effects of a Consistent Sleep Schedule on Time Taken to Achieve Sleep
Finley and Cowley
Clinical Case Studies 2005;4:304-311.
ABSTRACT  

Interaction of Sleep Disturbances and Anxiety in Later Life: Perspectives and Recommendations for Future Research
Spira et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2005;18:109-115.
ABSTRACT  

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Insomnia: A Review
Benca
Psychiatr. Serv. 2005;56:332-343.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Insomnia in HIV Infection: A Systematic Review of Prevalence, Correlates, and Management
Reid and Dwyer
Psychosom. Med. 2005;67:260-269.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence and Correlates of Nonrestorative Sleep Complaints
Ohayon
Arch Intern Med 2005;165:35-41.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Validation of the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale in a Multicenter Controlled Clinical Trial
Levine et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2005;67:98-104.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Book Review: Insomnia following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review
Ouellet et al.
Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2004;18:187-198.
ABSTRACT  

Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Direct Comparison
Jacobs et al.
Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1888-1896.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Safety and Efficacy of Herbal Sedatives in Cancer Care
Block et al.
Integr Cancer Ther 2004;3:128-148.
ABSTRACT  

Randomized Clinical Trial of Supervised Tapering and Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Facilitate Benzodiazepine Discontinuation in Older Adults With Chronic Insomnia
Morin et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2004;161:332-342.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Maintenance Treatment of Insomnia: What Can We Learn From the Depression Literature?
Jindal et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2004;161:19-24.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Discontinuation of benzodiazepines among older insomniac adults treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy combined with gradual tapering: a randomized trial
Baillargeon et al.
CMAJ 2003;169:1015-1020.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hypnotic Dependent Insomnia in an Older Adult with Addiction-Prone Personality
Cooper et al.
Clinical Case Studies 2003;2:247-258.
ABSTRACT  

Chronic Insomnia and Immune Functioning
Savard et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2003;65:211-221.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Treatments for sleep problems in elderly people
Montgomery
BMJ 2002;325:1049-1049.
FULL TEXT  

Critical Incident Exposure and Sleep Quality in Police Officers
Neylan et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2002;64:345-352.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Comparative Meta-Analysis of Pharmacotherapy and Behavior Therapy for Persistent Insomnia
Smith et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2002;159:5-11.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Practice of Pediatric Sleep Medicine: Results of a Community Survey
Owens
Pediatrics 2001;108:e51-51.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Somatic and Psychological Complaints and Their Correlates With Insomnia in the Japanese General Population
Kim et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2001;63:441-446.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment of Chronic Primary Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Edinger et al.
JAMA 2001;285:1856-1864.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sleep and Behavior Problems in School-Aged Children
Stein et al.
Pediatrics 2001;107:e60-e60.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Insomnia, Self-Medication, and Relapse to Alcoholism
Brower et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2001;158:399-404.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Insomnia in the Context of Cancer: A Review of a Neglected Problem
Savard and Morin
JCO 2001;19:895-908.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

SF-36: Evaluation of Quality of Life in Severe and Mild Insomniacs Compared With Good Sleepers
Leger et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2001;63:49-55.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Depressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking Predict Development and Persistence of Sleep Problems in US Adolescents
Patten et al.
Pediatrics 2000;106:23e-23.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sleep Disturbances and Their Correlates in Elderly Japanese American Men Residing in Hawaii
Babar et al.
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2000;55:406M-411.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The diagnosis and management of insomnia in clinical practice: a practical evidence-based approach
Holbrook et al.
CMAJ 2000;162:216-210.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Meta-analysis of benzodiazepine use in the treatment of insomnia
Holbrook et al.
CMAJ 2000;162:225-233.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Behavioral and Pharmacological Treatment for Insomnia
Finucane et al.
JAMA 1999;282:1130-1131.
FULL TEXT  

Behavioral and Pharmacological Therapies for Late-Life Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Morin et al.
JAMA 1999;281:991-999.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Conundrums in Sleep Medicine
Collop
Chest 1999;115:607-608.
FULL TEXT  

Review: benzodiazepines and zolpidem are effective for chronic insomnia
van Bemmel
Evid. Based Ment. Health 1998;1:117-117.
FULL TEXT  

Association of Physical Activity and Human Sleep Disorders
Sherrill et al.
Arch Intern Med 1998;158:1894-1898.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Clinical Correlates of Insomnia in Patients With Chronic Illness
Katz and McHorney
Arch Intern Med 1998;158:1099-1107.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Stimulus Control for Medicated and Nonmedicated Insomniacs
Riedel et al.
Behav Modif 1998;22:3-28.
ABSTRACT  

Benzodiazepines and Zolpidem for Chronic Insomnia: A Meta-analysis of Treatment Efficacy
Nowell et al.
JAMA 1997;278:2170-2177.
ABSTRACT  

A 96-Year-Old Woman With Insomnia
Mendelson
JAMA 1997;277:990-996.
ABSTRACT  

The Natural History of Insomnia and Its Relationship to Respiratory Symptoms
Dodge et al.
Arch Intern Med 1995;155:1797-1800.
ABSTRACT  

Subtle Symptoms Associated with Self-Reported Mild Head Injury
Segalowitz and Lawson
J Learn Disabil 1995;28:309-319.
ABSTRACT  

Management of Insomnia in Office-Based Practice: National Prevalence and Therapeutic Patterns
Radecki and Brunton
Arch Fam Med 1993;2:1129-1134.
ABSTRACT  

Multifactor Behavioral Treatment of Chronic Sleep-Onset Insomnia Using Stimulus Control and the Relaxation Response: A Preliminary Study
Jacobs et al.
Behav Modif 1993;17:498-509.
ABSTRACT  

It's Time to Wake Up to the Importance of Sleep Disorders
Dement and Mitler
JAMA 1993;269:1548-1550.
ABSTRACT  

Risk Factors Associated With Complaints of Insomnia in a General Adult Population: Influence of Previous Complaints of Insomnia
Klink et al.
Arch Intern Med 1992;152:1634-1637.
ABSTRACT  

Outpatient Use of Prescription Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs in the United States, 1970 Through 1989
Wysowski and Baum
Arch Intern Med 1991;151:1779-1783.
ABSTRACT  

Sleep Disorders
Wincor
Journal of Pharmacy Practice 1990;3:221-232.
ABSTRACT  

Epidemiologic Study of Sleep Disturbances and Psychiatric Disorders: An Opportunity for Prevention?
Ford and Kamerow
JAMA 1989;262:1479-1484.
ABSTRACT  

Use and Abuse of Benzodiazepines: Issues Relevant to Prescribing
Woods et al.
JAMA 1988;260:3476-3480.
ABSTRACT