• D Léger, F-A Allaert, and M-A Massuel.
• Centre du sommeil, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, APHP, Paris. damien.leger@htd.ap-hop-paris.fr
• Presse Med. 2005 Nov 5; 34 (19 Pt 1): 1358-62.

AimTo describe the attitudes of French general practitioners (GPs) about insomnia and its effect on patients' physical health and work.MethodA questionnaire about patients with insomnia and its diagnosis, treatment, and consequences was distributed to a representative sample of 8000 GPs.Results6,043 GPs completed and returned the questionnaires. They estimated the prevalence of insomnia in their patients at 18.1%. They identified the principal causes of insomnia as anxiety (58.8%) and work issues (54%). Nearly 45% reported that they always raise the subject of sleep with their patients. For 62.4% sleep problems reflect another disorder rather than being a primary syndrome. Nearly two-thirds (60.2%) do not prescribe medication at the first complaint. When prescribing hypnotics, 81.3% also recommended sleep hygiene measures. Most (68.5%) agreed that insomnia affects concentration, memory, and attention. Almost all employed patients with insomnia complained of work-related effects, such as loss of productivity and absenteeism.ConclusionInsomnia and its management are topics of strong interest for GPs.

14 keywords...

hide…