Insomnia natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Adnan Ezici, M.D[2]

Common complications of insomnia include anxiety, major depressive disorder, and substance abuse. The presence of chronic insomnia is associated with a particularly poor prognosis among patients with insomnia. Chronic insomnia might cause depression, hypertension, and mortality in older adults.

The symptoms of insomnia disorder continue a year after the beginning of the disease in 70% of people with insomnia. Furthermore, 50% of patients report symptoms of insomnia 3 years after the beginning of the disease.^[1]

Common complications of insomnia include:^[1]

• Anxiety
• Major depressive disorder
• Substance abuse

The presence of chronic insomnia is associated with a particularly poor prognosis among patients with insomnia. Chronic insomnia might cause:^[1]

• Depression
• Hypertension
• Mortality in older adults