The medicalization of sleeplessness: a public health concern

Moloney, Mairead Eastin; Konrad, Thomas R.; Zimmer, Catherine R.

doi:10.2105/ajph.2010.300014

Cited by 136Sleep and related disordersObstructive Sleep Apnea ResearchOpioid Use Disorder Treatment

The medicalization of sleeplessness: a public health concern

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Moloney, Mairead Eastin, Konrad, Thomas R., Zimmer, Catherine R.·2011·American Journal of Public Health

DOI 10.2105/ajph.2010.300014PMC PMC3134490

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Abstract

Sleeplessness, a universal condition with diverse causes, may be increasingly diagnosed and treated (or medicalized) as insomnia. We examined the trend in sleeplessness complaints, diagnoses, and prescriptions of sedative hypnotics in physician office visits from 1993 to 2007. Consistent with the medicalization hypothesis, sleeplessness complaints and insomnia diagnoses increased over time and were far outpaced by prescriptions for sedative hypnotics. Insomnia may be a public health concern, but potential overtreatment with marginally effective, expensive medications with nontrivial side effects raises definite population health concerns.

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The recommended first line treatment for insomnia is not pharmacotherapy, although pharmacotherapy remains the most widely-utilized approach.
“Of note, the recommended first line treatment for insomnia is not pharmacotherapy, although pharmacotherapy remains the most widely-utilized approach(238).”
From Sleep: important considerations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (2016) · cites this paper as [238]

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Authors: Moloney, M. E., Konrad, T. R., & Zimmer, C. R.
Affiliations: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
ORCID: Moloney, Mairead Eastin
Konrad, Thomas R.
Zimmer, Catherine R.
Venue: American Journal of Public Health
Publisher: American Public Health Association
Published: 2011-08
Volume: 101
Issue: 8
Pages: 1429-1433
ISSN: 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
1541-0048
DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2010.300014
PMC: PMC3134490
OpenAlex: W1974600523
Cited by: 136
References: 37
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI: 9.07
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (T32HS000032)
National Institute on Aging (T32AG000272)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (T32AT003378)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Keywords: insomnia, medicalization, sedative-hypnotic drugs, prescribing trends, overtreatment, physician visits, public health problem, adverse drug reactions
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Humans, Hypnotics and Sedatives, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Middle Aged, Drug Prescriptions, Young Adult

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The medicalization of sleeplessness: a public health concern

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