Sleep disorders: 1 questionnaire and rating scale
Sleep questionnaires are psychometric tools that assess sleep quality, insomnia severity and daytime sleepiness. They support the identification of sleep disorders, the assessment of their impact and monitoring.
SDI
Sleep Difficulties Inventory
This exploratory questionnaire describes sleep difficulties (falling asleep, night and early-morning awakenings, daytime impact) and what maintains them: arousal at bedtime, worries and beliefs about sleep, and habits and schedule. It covers the targets of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and helps choose where to start. Two questions flag signs that call for a referral to a physician: snoring or gasping for air, and unpleasant sensations in the legs at rest.
Frequently asked questions
What do these questionnaires measure?
Depending on the scale, overall sleep quality, insomnia severity or daytime sleepiness, based on what the patient reports.
Do they replace a sleep study?
No. They identify and monitor the subjective complaint; they do not replace specialized investigations such as polysomnography when these are indicated.
Are they useful for monitoring?
Yes. Repeated over time, these scales document how symptoms change, notably during insomnia treatment.
Sleep in clinical practice
Sleep disorders, foremost among them insomnia, are common and often intertwined with anxiety and depressive disorders. They impair daytime functioning and can maintain other psychological symptoms.
Scales provide a standardized measure of the complaint and its impact. A numerical score supports identification, referral to treatment and the assessment of how things change.
- Diagnostic reference points for insomnia.
- Measure the daytime impact.
- Choose according to the complaint assessed.