Insomnia diagnosis and management: an osteopathic approach

Insomnia affects a large percentage of American adults and is among the most commonly treated medical conditions in the outpatient clinical setting. The psychological, medical and financial impact of insomnia is substantial. Research indicates that pharmacologic treatment is associated with significant risk, and clinicians should consider other modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy before prescribing medications for the treatment of insomnia. Other complementary treatments including yoga, stress management and traditional Chinese medical therapies are promising, but more research is needed. The osteopathic family physician plays an important role in diagnosis and management. An osteopathic approach to patient care is highly beneficial and includes a multifaceted evaluation when taking a patient history and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to balance autonomic tone and correct associated somatic dysfunction.