Insomnia during Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Rational Interventions

Authors

  • Ali M Hashmi King Edward Medical University
  • Shashi K Bhatia Creighton University School of Medicine Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
  • Subhash K Bhatia Distinguished Professor and Senior Associate Chair for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development, Creighton University Department of Psychiatry Adjunct Professor, University of Nebraska College of Medicine Omaha, NE 68105, USA
  • Imran S Khawaja Medical Director, Center for Sleep Medicine, VA Medical Center, Dallas, Texas Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, UT Southwestern School of Medicine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.324.10421

Keywords:

Insomnia, Obstructive Sleep apnea, Pregnancy.

Abstract

Sleep disturbances are common in pregnancy. Insomnia is a frequent sleep disturbance experienced by pregnant women which can be primary or due to co-morbid conditions. The differential diagnosis of insomnia in pregnancy includes anxiety disorders, mood disorders, breathing related sleep disorders and restless legs syndrome. Early interventions to treat the sleep disturbance are recommended to avoid adverse pregnancy outcomes. Management strategies include improving sleep hygiene, behavioral therapies, and pharmacotherapy. The risks of pharmacotherapy must be weighed against their benefits due to the possible risk of teratogenicity associated with some medications.Methods: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar employing a combination of key words: pregnancy, sleep disturbances, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep disorders and insomnia. We included original studies, review articles, meta-analysis and systematic reviews in our search prioritizing articles from the last 10-15 years. Articles older than 15 years were only included if their findings had not been superseded by more recent data. Further selection of articles was done from bibliographies and references of selected articles.Conclusion: Sleep disturbances in pregnancy are common and cause considerable morbidity. Management includes a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments carefully weighing the risks and benefits of each for the expectant mother and fetus.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12669/pjms.324.10421

How to cite this:Hashmi AM, Bhatia SK, Bhatia SK, Khawaja IS. Insomnia during Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Rational Interventions. Pak J Med Sci. 2016;32(4):1030-1037.

Author Biographies

Ali M Hashmi, King Edward Medical University

Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Tenure Track),

Department of Psychiatry, King Edward Medical University

Shashi K Bhatia, Creighton University School of Medicine Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Professor and Division Director,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Subhash K Bhatia, Distinguished Professor and Senior Associate Chair for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development, Creighton University Department of Psychiatry Adjunct Professor, University of Nebraska College of Medicine Omaha, NE 68105, USA

Distinguished Professor and Senior Associate Chair for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development,

Creighton University Department of Psychiatry

Imran S Khawaja, Medical Director, Center for Sleep Medicine, VA Medical Center, Dallas, Texas Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, UT Southwestern School of Medicine

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, UT Southwestern School of Medicine

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Published

2016-08-05

How to Cite

Hashmi, A. M., Bhatia, S. K., Bhatia, S. K., & Khawaja, I. S. (2016). Insomnia during Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Rational Interventions. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.324.10421

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 4 (2016): July - August 2016 Pak J Med Sci

Section

Review Article