Work

The Medicalization of Sleeplessness: A Public Health Concern

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Sleeplessness, a universal condition with diverse causes, may be increasingly diagnosed and treated (or medicalized) as insomnia. We examined the trend in sleeplessness complaints, diagnoses, and prescriptions of sedative hypnotics in physician office visits from 1993 to 2007. Consistent with the medicalization hypothesis, sleeplessness complaints and insomnia diagnoses increased over time and were far outpaced by prescriptions for sedative hypnotics. Insomnia may be a public health concern, but potential overtreatment with marginally effective, expensive medications with nontrivial side effects raises definite population health concerns.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2010.300014

Authors: Mairead Eastin Moloney, Thomas R. Konrad, Catherine R. Zimmer

Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and related disorders

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Institute on Aging, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health