Insomnia - Mental Health Disorders

Insomnia

Sleep patterns vary widely among individuals, and although insomnia is not a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia, it has become a chronic mental health problem for an increasing number of Americans. Dr. Sanford Auerback, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Boston University, estimates in the July/August 1993 issue of Natural Health that as many as 15–17% of Americans suffer from chronic, untreated sleep disorders such as insomnia. A pamphlet compiled by the American Sleep Disorders Association entitled How Much Sleep Do You Need? claims that accidents and loss of productivity due to sleep deprivation cost the U.S. $50 billion per year. As a result of these disturbing trends, President Clinton has signed legislation creating a new National Center for Sleep Disorders at the National Institutes of Health.

Most researchers now think that few people can subsist regularly on less than seven hours a night–the minimum amount of sleep needed to promote continuous daytime alertness. By this definition, many Americans are sleep deprived. Coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and other foods or drugs containing caffeine are believed to be important factors that prevent people from obtaining an adequate amount of sleep. Nicotine is also a stimulant that prevents normal sleeping behavior.