A 40-year-old man with a 2-year history of inability to sleep despite adequate time and opportunity, associated daytime fatigue and cognitive impairment, presents for evaluation. Per DSM-5, the minimum duration required to diagnose Chronic Insomnia Disorder is:
- A 3 months ✓
- B 1 month
- C 6 months
- D 1 year
Correct answer: A. 3 months
Explanation
DSM-5 Insomnia Disorder (replacing 'primary insomnia' and 'insomnia related to another mental disorder' from DSM-IV) requires: sleep initiation/maintenance/early-waking difficulties, ≥3 nights/week for ≥3 months, causing daytime distress or impairment, despite adequate sleep opportunity. The 3-month duration threshold distinguishes chronic insomnia from short-term (episodic) insomnia. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment; pharmacotherapy (z-drugs, doxepin, lemborexant) is second-line.
Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.