If you think you have insomnia, talk to your health care provider before trying to self-medicate. An evaluation from your physician may include a:
- physical exam
- current and previous drug usage
- medical history
- sleep history
Tests Used to Diagnose Insomnia
- Sleep Diary: Your physician may ask you to keep a diary to track your sleep patterns for a few weeks to better understand your condition.
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale: a validated questionnaire that is used to assess daytime sleepiness.
- Polysomnography: an overnight test monitoring and measuring activity during sleep.
- Actigraphy: a test to assess sleep-wake patterns over time. Actigraphs are small devices (about the size of a wristwatch) that the patient wears that measures total movement during sleep.
- Mental Health Exam: The physician may look at your mental health status, mental health history, and basic mental evaluations as part of your initial assessment since insomnia may be caused by a mental disorder such as depression and anxiety.
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