Rosekind M R
Sleep Disorders Center, Stanford University, Calif.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1992 Jun;53 Suppl:4-6.
Although the definitions of insomnia have changed over the last decade to include the perceptions of patients and the effects of disturbed sleep on daytime function, no clear measure exists for isolating the scope of the problem within the general population. A 1979 Gallup poll survey showed that 95% of the adult population had experienced insomnia. The current literature maintains consistently that approximately one third of all people have sleep problems in any given year. Of those, only half consider the problem serious enough to seek medical advice. Sleep disorders appear to effect women more often than men, and the complaints increase with age. Younger people tend to have trouble falling asleep, while older people have difficulty maintaining sleep. The many varieties of sleep disorders and the diverse etiologies underlying them make it crucial that the individual sleep problem be understood clearly. An accurate diagnosis should drive treatment.
尽管在过去十年中，失眠的定义已有所变化，将患者的认知以及睡眠障碍对日间功能的影响纳入其中，但在普通人群中，尚无明确的方法来界定这一问题的范围。1979年盖洛普民意调查显示，95%的成年人曾经历过失眠。当前的文献一致认为，每年约有三分之一的人存在睡眠问题。其中，只有一半的人认为问题严重到需要寻求医疗建议。睡眠障碍似乎对女性的影响比对男性更常见，且此类抱怨会随着年龄增长而增加。年轻人往往难以入睡，而老年人则难以维持睡眠。睡眠障碍种类繁多，其背后的病因也各不相同，因此清楚了解个体的睡眠问题至关重要。准确的诊断应指导治疗。
