Insomnia subtypes-exemplary approaches and open questions

Different authors have suggested that it may be clinically useful and scientifically valuable to identify robust subtypes of insomnia to increase treatment efficacy. Five exemplary classifications of insomnia subtypes are described in the current narrative review: 1) classifications according to clinical symptoms; 2) primary vs. secondary insomnia; 3) ICSD-2 subtypes; 4) insomnia with objective short or normal sleep duration; and 5) subtypes from the Netherlands Sleep Registry. Subsequently, temporal stability of subtype membership as well as clinical relevance of subtype classifications are critically discussed.

Automated summary

This article reviews five exemplary classifications of insomnia subtypes and critically discusses the temporal stability of subtype membership as well as the clinical relevance of subtype classifications.