Sleep Disorder - Tests Used To Diagnose Insomnia

Tests Used To Diagnose Insomnia

The following tests are used to diagnose insomnia.

  • Sleep diary: Tracking sleep patterns may help a doctor reach a diagnosis.
  • Epworth Sleepiness Scale: a validated questionnaire that is used to assess daytime sleepiness
  • Polysomnogram: a test measuring brain and muscle activity including breathing during sleep
  • Multiple Sleep Latency Test: a test for daytime sleepiness, usually administered the day after overnight polysomnography
  • Actigraphy: a test to assess sleep-wake patterns, usually for a week or more. Actigraphs are wrist-worn devices, about the size of a wristwatch, that measure movement.
  • Mental health exam: Because insomnia may be a symptom of depression, anxiety, or another mental health disorder, a mental status exam, mental health history, and basic mental evaluations may be part of the assessment for a person complaining of insomnia.

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