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.

Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Insomnia Symptoms

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Treatment of Middle-of-the-Night Insomnia

Insomnia Treatment

Insomnia Causes

Insomnia in Children

Treatment of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Screen Time and Insomnia

Middle of the Night Insomnia

Middle of the Night Insomnia and Biphasic Sleeping

See more featured articles »

Causes of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Insomnia in Pregnancy

Latest Insomnia News and Research

Study finds ADHD symptoms linked to higher internet addiction risk in college students

A cross-sectional study of Chinese college students found ADHD symptoms were associated with internet addiction, with insomnia and executive dysfunction acting as mediating factors. Moderate and high physical activity levels were also linked with lower internet addiction symptoms, although causality cannot be inferred.

4 Feb 2026

Emotional pain often outweighs fear in post-traumatic stress disorder

New research is challenging the long-held view of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a fear-based disorder. In a new study, 68% of trauma-exposed individuals reported that emotional pain (guilt, shame, sadness, loss of joy) impaired their daily functioning more than fear.

4 Feb 2026

Mouse study reveals mechanism driving first night insomnia

You check into a hotel and toss and turn all night, but your sleep improves the following night. Scientists at Nagoya University wanted to understand why this happens.

2 Feb 2026

How modern lifestyles reprogram the gut microbiome and shape disease risk

Modern lifestyle factors such as circadian disruption, sleep deprivation, stress, and exercise reshape the gut bacteriome and its metabolic outputs. These microbiome changes are linked to immune, metabolic, and cancer-related pathways, largely through evidence from animal models and observational human studies.

27 Jan 2026

Menopause associated with reduced brain volume and increased anxiety symptoms

Menopause is linked to reductions in grey matter volume in key brain regions as well as increased levels of anxiety and depression and difficulties with sleep, according to new research from the University of Cambridge.

27 Jan 2026

Short naps refresh the brain for better learning

Even a short afternoon nap can help the brain recover and improve its ability to learn. In a study published on January 22, 2026, in the journal NeuroImage, researchers at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and University of Geneva, show that even a nap is enough to reorganize connections between nerve cells so that new information can be stored more effectively.

22 Jan 2026

New review examines the growing global use of melatonin among pediatric populations

Sleep problems are increasingly common among children and adolescents, affecting emotional regulation, cognitive development, and healthy conditions.

16 Jan 2026

Real-time smartphone monitoring improves evaluation of insomnia treatment effectiveness

About one in nine adults suffer from chronic insomnia and its residual effects like drowsiness, cognitive issues, and irritability as well as increased health risks like diabetes and heart risks if left untreated.

8 Jan 2026

Altered stress signaling helps explain relapse in alcohol use disorder

A new study by Scripps Research reveals that alcohol dependence disrupts two signaling pathways in a stress-related part of the brain-and offers insights on developing drugs to treat this condition.

22 Dec 2025

Higher minimum drinking age linked to better grades and mental health

Despite a downward trend in alcohol consumption, drinking rates among European teenagers remain notably high by international standards.

16 Dec 2025

Breast cancer disrupts stress hormone rhythms in the brain

"The brain is an exquisite sensor of what's going on in your body," says Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Assistant Professor Jeremy Borniger. "But it requires balance. Neurons need to be active or inactive at the right times. If that rhythm goes out of sync even a little bit, it can change the function of the entire brain."

15 Dec 2025

FDA panelists questioned antidepressants in pregnancy. But doctors call them a lifeline.

If you are pregnant or a new mother who is struggling with depression or anxiety, you can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, 24/7: 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262). Postpartum Support International can help connect you with a local mental health provider at 800-944-4773 or psidirectory.com.

15 Dec 2025

Acupuncture improves breast cancer survivors' perceived cognitive impairment

Real and sham acupuncture were more effective at improving breast cancer survivors' perceived cognitive impairment compared with usual care, while real acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in improving objective cognitive function, according to results from the randomized ENHANCE phase II clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

12 Dec 2025

Anxiety and insomnia linked to reduced natural killer cell levels in young women

Natural killer (NK) cells are the bodyguards of our immune system. As a first line of defense, they destroy invading pathogens, foreign bodies, and infected cells in early stages, thereby preventing them from spreading.

10 Dec 2025

UCL study reveals the challenges faced by London's night workers

A major new study by UCL researchers has revealed the challenges faced by London's 1.3m night workers, including pay inequality, health problems, transport difficulties, safety concerns and a lack of workplace dignity.

4 Dec 2025

Medical cannabis evidence falls short for most conditions

Medical cannabis lacks adequate scientific backing for most of the conditions it is commonly used to treat, including chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia, according to a comprehensive review led by UCLA Health.

3 Dec 2025

Tai chi proves as effective as CBT for long-term insomnia relief

Researchers compare the efficacy of Tai chi with cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia.

3 Dec 2025

Automated EHR system triages cancer symptoms, improves care team efficiency

For many people living with cancer, symptoms such as pain, anxiety or insomnia can quickly spiral into an emergency room visit. Such visits can be financially costly and take an emotional toll on patients and their caregivers.

3 Dec 2025

Bedtime stress behaviors connect financial strain to declining sleep health

Long before the alarm sounds, many Americans lose quality rest to the quiet worries that surface after dark - whether about bills, the next paycheck or job stability. New research from Rice University shows those bedtime stress moments aren't just uncomfortable; they're part of a measurable pathway connecting economic stress to poor sleep.

1 Dec 2025

Older women with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea show worse memory performance

New research among older adults with sleep apnea reveals that verbal memory performance is significantly worse in women - but not in men - who also have insomnia.

1 Dec 2025