Insomnia

Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition in which it is difficult to get to sleep, or to remain soundly asleep, resulting in too short and too low-quality sleep which affects normal functioning. It causes fatigue and daytime sleepiness. It may be classified as acute, lasting a few days or weeks, or chronic, when it lasts longer than a month.

Treatment of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Insomnia in Children

Treatment of Middle-of-the-Night Insomnia

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Insomnia Symptoms

Middle of the Night Insomnia

Screen Time and Insomnia

Insomnia Treatment

Middle of the Night Insomnia and Biphasic Sleeping

Insomnia in Pregnancy

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Causes of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Insomnia Causes

Latest Insomnia News and Research

Study links semaglutide and tirzepatide to fewer anxiety and depression diagnoses in obesity care

A US electronic health record study found that adults with obesity who started semaglutide or tirzepatide had lower recorded hazards of anxiety and depression than matched patients using naltrexone-bupropion. However, among adults without type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide was linked to higher recorded hazards of anxiety and insomnia than semaglutide, underscoring the need for cautious monitoring.

1 Jul 2026

Melatonin may safely reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain, study finds

A sleep supplement widely used to treat insomnia could help reduce reliance on some of the most common and potentially harmful pain medications, new research from the University of Sydney suggests.

30 Jun 2026

Zebrafish study links altered neuronal genes to hyperarousal states

The altered presence of tiny fragments of neuronal genes, called microexons, causes hyperarousal in zebrafish. This is the main conclusion of an international study led by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG).

19 Jun 2026

Study links commercial cannabis markets to increased addiction

Removing criminal penalties for possessing cannabis for personal use, or introducing tightly controlled legalisation of cannabis, does not appear to increase levels of cannabis use.

17 Jun 2026

Retinal photographs may reveal early Alzheimer's disease risk

Often called "the window to the soul," the eyes may also offer clues about something less poetic but just as important: the health of the brain.

16 Jun 2026

More daily steps translate to improved mental health and better sleep among college students

University students who aren't always enthused about walking across campus for class can take heart in new research that suggests lots of daily steps translates to improved mental health and better sleep.

9 Jun 2026

New digital platform treats insomnia and anxiety in seniors

Cognitive behavioral therapies for insomnia (CBT-I) are increasingly being delivered online in order to improve accessibility.

9 Jun 2026

Teen insomnia symptoms linked to hospitalizations in young adulthood

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting found that poorer sleep health according to wrist actigraphy and insomnia symptoms during adolescence predicted a higher likelihood of an overnight hospital stay during young adulthood around seven years later, even after accounting for adolescent hospitalizations and sleep health.

4 Jun 2026

Subjective aging predicts poorer sleep health and daytime impairment

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting found that adults who feel older than their chronological age reported worse sleep outcomes, including more insomnia symptoms, greater sleep-related impairment, and lower sleep regularity, with those sleep outcomes in turn associated with poorer self-reported physical health.

2 Jun 2026

Midlife sleep problems affect long-term psychological well-being in women

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting found that sleep problems in middle-aged and older adults are tied to lower psychological well-being nine years later.

2 Jun 2026

Special yoga intervention helps cancer survivors manage psychological side effects

University of Rochester Medicine is in the spotlight at a national meeting for a new discovery in integrative oncology: A special yoga intervention, the study shows, goes a step further than other side-effect therapies to improve four domains of physical and psychological side effects that most patients experience, including lifting mood and easing anxiety.

26 May 2026

Machine learning lifestyle coaching helps reduce major depressive symptoms

More than 21% of U.S. adults experience depression, greatly impacting their quality of life. Many people with mild‑to‑moderate depression can improve their symptoms by adjusting daily habits like sleep, exercise, diet and social interaction, according to Jyoti Mishra, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

21 May 2026

Oral AD109 improves sleep apnea severity but tolerability remains a challenge

AD109, an investigational once-daily oral combination of aroxybutynin and atomoxetine, significantly improved airway obstruction and oxygenation in adults with mild-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who could not use PAP therapy. However, symptom improvements did not clearly differ from placebo, and about one in five AD109 recipients discontinued treatment due to adverse events.

21 May 2026

Mental disorders affect one in three pregnant women, and violence may be a key driver

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies involving 17,380 pregnant women found that common mental disorders affected about one-third of participants across studies from Africa, Asia, and South America. The analysis found strong regional variation and identified intimate partner violence as the only statistically significant risk factor, with affected women having about 2.6-fold higher odds of CMDs.

18 May 2026