Recommendations

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Insomnia in Adults

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Publication Date: Feb 1, 2017

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

AASM GRADING SYSTEM

AASM Strength of Recommendation		Example Characteristics Guiding Recommendation
FOR	STRONG	There is a high degree of clinical certainty in the net benefits of this patient-care strategy. The vast majority of well-informed patients would most likely choose this patient-care strategy, compared to alternative patient-care strategies or no treatment.
FOR	WEAK	There is a lower degree of clinical certainty in the balance between benefits vs. harms (e.g., net benefits) of this patient-care strategy. The majority of well-informed patients would most likely choose this patient-care strategy, compared to alternative patient-care strategies or no treatment.
AGAINST	WEAK	There is a lower degree of clinical certainty in the balance between benefits vs. harms (e.g., net harms) of this patient-care strategy. The majority of well-informed patients would most likely not choose this patient-care strategy, compared to alternative patient-care strategies or no treatment.
AGAINST	STRONG	There is a high degree of clinical certainty in the net harms of this patient-care strategy. The vast majority of well-informed patients would most likely not choose this patient-care strategy, compared to alternative patient-care strategies or no treatment.

Document Overview

Document Title: Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Insomnia in Adults

Authoring Society: American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Document Publication Date: Feb 1, 2017

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.6470

Source Citation: https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6470

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: The purpose of this guideline is to establish clinical practice recommendations for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults, when such treatment is clinically indicated.

Scope: Management, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D012893 - Sleep Wake Disorders

D056508 - Sleep Medicine Specialty

D000068776 - Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical

D007319 - Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

D012893 - Sleep Wake Disorders

D056508 - Sleep Medicine Specialty

D000068776 - Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical

D007319 - Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Keywords: Insomnia, benzodiazepine, chronic insomnia, melatonin, sleep disorders, suvorexant

Target Patient Population: Patients with chronic insomnia

Inclusion Criteria: Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Older Adult

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Outpatient

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Supplemental Methodology Resources: Data Supplement Data Supplement

Number of Source Documents: 175

Literature Search Start Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Literature Search End Date: Monday, January 25, 2016

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: Yes

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: Yes