Grant: Operating Grant

Insomnia is a very frequent health complaint in the general population and among patients with medical and psychiatric conditions. Chronic difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep are often associated with significant psychosocial and occupational impairments such as daytime fatigue, mood disturbances, performance impairments, more frequent absences from work, and reduced quality of life. The financial costs associated with having insomnia is also very elevated, both at the individual and societal levels. For many individuals, this problem occurs nightly and can last for many years. Yet, only a small percentage of individuals with insomnia seek professional advice and treatment for their difficulties. The reasons for this remain unknown and, although many factors associated with insomnia have been identified, little is known about its causes or about the factors associated with its persistence or remission. Moreover, although chronic insomnia has been linked to psychological and physical health problems, such as depression and hypertension, for example, the long-term consequences of chronic insomnia are still poorly understood. What are the risk factors for developing insomnia? How long does it last if it remains untreated? What are the factors associated with its remission? What are some of the reasons which motivate help-seeking? These are some of the questions this longitudinal study will examine by monitoring the sleep patterns and the psychological and health characteristics of nearly 4000 adults over a 10-year period. This study is likely to yield new information to improve our understanding of the natural course, risk factors, and consequences of insomnia, which may lead to the development of more effective intervention and prevention programs for this important public health problem.