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------------------------------------------------------------------------ Insomnia Burdens Workforce And Healthcare System ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WESTPORT, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Last May, Reuters Health reported that insomnia costs the US about $100 billion annually in medical costs and decreased productivity. A new study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry confirms these earlier findings of functional impairment and lost productivity as a result of insomnia. Drs. Gregory E. Simon and Michael VonKorff of the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound in Seattle looked at the prevalence, treatment and consequences of insomnia in more than 350 primary care patients. One in 10 patients reported major current insomnia, defined as "...taking at least 2 hours to fall asleep nearly every night." Of these patients, 28% were taking a psychotropic drug of some kind. In this sample, insomnia was associated with increased functional impairment, more days of disability and a greater use of medical services. Controlling for depressive disorder and chronic illness only partly accounted for these associations. "The burden of functional impairment associated with insomnia in this sample appears as great as that due to many other psychiatric and general medical disorders," Drs. Simon and VonKorff comment. "Data from this and other studies suggest the potential for major improvements in the quality of life and productivity if insomnia is effectively treated." Am J Psychiatry 1997;154:1417-1423. Westport Newsroom 203 319 2700 Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited. <http://www.reutershealth.com/news/docs/199710/19971013epa.html> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [log in to unmask]