Insomnia in Older Adults Part I: Assessment

Amit Morris, BSc, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON; Department of Psychiatry, Sleep and Alertness Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Colin M. Shapiro, MBBCh, PhD, FRCP(C), Department of Psychiatry, Sleep and
Alertness Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Insomnia is very common among older adults and may have serious consequences. The assessment of insomnia can be challenging, given the number of possible causes and the fact that insomnia is often not a presenting complaint. Inquiring about patients’ sleep and performing a thorough evaluation of any concerns will allow a rational and targeted approach to treatment.

Key words: insomnia, sleep, older adults, aging, diagnosis.