Insomnia is by far the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. Insomnia may be caused by a host of different reasons. These causes may be divided into situational factors, medical or psychiatric conditions, or primary sleep problems.

Common symptoms of insomnia include difficulty getting to sleep and waking before it is time to get up. There are many factors that can contribute to insomnia including stress and underlying medical conditions.

Insomnia could also be classified by the duration of the symptoms into transient, short-term, or chronic. Transient insomnia generally last less than seven days; short-term insomnia usually lasts for about one to three weeks, and chronic insomnia lasts for more than three weeks.

Many of the causes of transient and short-term insomnia are similar and they include:

• Jet Lag
• Changes in shift work
• Excessive or unpleasant noise
• Uncomfortable room temperature (too hot or too cold)
• Stressful situations in life (exam preparation, unemployment, divorce, or separation)
• Presence of an acute medical or surgical illness or hospitalization
• Withdrawal from drug, alcohol, sedative, or stimulant medications

The most common psychological problems that may lead to insomnia include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress (mental, emotional, situational, etc)
• Schizophrenia
• Mania (Bipolar disorder)

The most common medical conditions that trigger insomnia:

• Chronic pain syndromes
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Congestive heart failure
• Night time angina (chest pain) from heart disease
• Acid reflux disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Nocturnal asthma (asthma with night time breathing symptoms)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease
• Brain tumors, strokes, or trauma to the brain

Most people seek medical attention when their insomnia becomes chronic.The main focus of treatment for insomnia should be directed towards finding the cause. Typical treatment include sleeping pills and behavior therapy. Practicing good sleep habits can often be effective for treating mild cases of insomnia.

Treating the symptoms of insomnia without addressing the main cause is rarely successful. In the majority of cases, chronic insomnia can be cured if its medical or psychiatric causes are evaluated and treated properly.

Generally, treatment of insomnia entails both non-medical and medical aspects. It is best to tailor treatment for individual patient based on the potential cause.