TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnosis and management of geriatric insomnia
T2 - A guide for nurse practitioners
AU - Krishnan, Preetha
AU - Hawranik, Pamela
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Purpose: To discuss the assessment, diagnosis, and management of geriatric insomnia, a challenging clinical condition of older adults frequently seen by primary care providers. Data sources: Extensive literature review of the published research articles and textbooks. Conclusions: Complaints of insomnia among older adults are frequently ignored, considered a part of the normal aging process or viewed as a difficult to treat condition. Geriatric insomnia remains a challenge for primary care providers because of the lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines and limited treatment options available. Effective management of this condition is necessary for improved quality of life, which is a primary issue for the elderly and their families. Therefore, geriatric insomnia warrants thorough attention from the nurse practitioners (NPs) who provide care for older adults. Implications for practice: Undiagnosed or under treated insomnia can cause increased risk for falls, motor vehicle accidents, depression, and shorter survival. Insomniacs double their risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and suicide compared to their counterparts. Insomnia is also associated with increased healthcare utilization and institutionalization. NPs could play a central role in reducing the negative consequences of insomnia through a systematic approach for diagnosis, evaluation, and management.
AB - Purpose: To discuss the assessment, diagnosis, and management of geriatric insomnia, a challenging clinical condition of older adults frequently seen by primary care providers. Data sources: Extensive literature review of the published research articles and textbooks. Conclusions: Complaints of insomnia among older adults are frequently ignored, considered a part of the normal aging process or viewed as a difficult to treat condition. Geriatric insomnia remains a challenge for primary care providers because of the lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines and limited treatment options available. Effective management of this condition is necessary for improved quality of life, which is a primary issue for the elderly and their families. Therefore, geriatric insomnia warrants thorough attention from the nurse practitioners (NPs) who provide care for older adults. Implications for practice: Undiagnosed or under treated insomnia can cause increased risk for falls, motor vehicle accidents, depression, and shorter survival. Insomniacs double their risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and suicide compared to their counterparts. Insomnia is also associated with increased healthcare utilization and institutionalization. NPs could play a central role in reducing the negative consequences of insomnia through a systematic approach for diagnosis, evaluation, and management.
KW - Geriatric insomnia
KW - Nonpharmacological management
KW - Pharmacological management
KW - Sleep disorder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57449122133&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00366.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00366.x
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19120590
AN - SCOPUS:57449122133
SN - 1041-2972
VL - 20
SP - 590
EP - 599
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
IS - 12
ER -