Diagnosis In medicine, insomnia is widely measured using the Athens insomnia scale. It is measured using eight different parameters related to sleep, finally it is represented as an overall scale which assess an individual's sleep pattern. A qualified sleep specialist should be consulted in the diagnosis of any sleep disorder. Past medical history and a physical examination need to be done to eliminate other conditions that could be the cause of the insomnia.
After all other conditions are ruled out a comprehensive sleep history should be taken. The sleep history should include sleep habits, medications (prescription and non-prescription), alcohol consumption, nicotine and caffeine intake, co-morbid illnesses, and sleep environment. A sleep diary can be used to keep track of the individual's sleep patterns. The diary should include time to bed, total sleep time, time to sleep onset,…
