[Treatment of insomnia].

Insomnia is not frequently a disease and is rather to be considered as a symptom or a physiological signal. Consequently, its treatment should tend to be etiological. If a pharmacological sleep inducing intervention proves necessary, it has to be included within a more general synchronizing approach. Resynchronizing techniques lie on chronophysiology i.e. rhythms hygiena, control of sleep schedules, sleep restriction. Other non-pharmacological approaches include behaviorism, paradoxical injunctions, relaxation, psychotherapies. Prescription of hypnotics (benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine drugs) is sometimes necessary and must be submitted to certain rules including indications, contra-indications, length of treatment, specific withdrawal techniques.