Focusing on the Experience of Insomnia

Abstract

Although insomnia is defined by sleep disturbances, patients also complain of daytime problems. To better define the range of experiences associated with insomnia, we conducted 3 focus groups comprising 16 patients with chronic insomnia. Participants were asked to describe their experience of insomnia and its effects, the changes that occurred with improved sleep, and what clinicians should ask about insomnia. Participants affirmed daytime consequences that are frequently cited in the literature: fatigue, irritability, and decreased performance. In addition, members of each group reported that they felt that the impact that insomnia had on their lives was pervasive and misunderstood by others who were significant to them or treating their sleep complaints. Daytime problems are salient descriptors of the insomnia experience. Assessing the patient's daytime experiences is valued by patients with insomnia and may be used as a benchmark for treatment response.

"I can't get no sleep"

“…may mean that these Tweeters are using Twitter as a virtual pillow to shout into. Individuals with insomnia are commonly (and quite understandably) frustrated [10], and appear to be using the platform to vent this frustration.…”

The Pathophysiology of Insomnia

“…Focus groups that captured patients' subjective experience of insomnia highlighted the pervasive impact of the disorder, the perception that others do not fully understand the impact of insomnia, and the importance of daytime symptoms of insomnia. 119 Self-report measures that were developed to assess presleep thought content 120 and sleep-related quality of life impairment 121 in insomnia demonstrated that (1) presleep cognitive activity among patients with insomnia focuses on rehearsal/planning, sleep and its consequences, and autonomic experiences, among others, and (2) the most common impairments pertain to energy/motivation, performance at work, cognitive functioning, and emotion regulation. Th is work has also shown that self-report symptom scales reliably discriminate individuals with insomnia and good sleepers.…”

Primary health care practitioner perspectives on the management of insomnia: a pilot study

“…Chronic sufferers of insomnia focus on daytime functional deficits rather than nocturnal experiences (e.g. total sleep time) (Carey et al 2005;Harvey et al 2008;Kyle et al 2010). This disparity may extend further into the treatment recommendations where there is an assumption that insomnia patients prefer pharmacotherapy (Dollman et al 2003;Dyas et al 2010).…”