Sleep disturbances are the most commonly reported psychological symptoms in Britain. Prevalence estimates of chronic symptoms accompanied by daytime consequences range from 8-12% of the adult population. Age-specific rates, however, show a steady rise in prevalence across the lifespan, from 3-5% at age 18-25 to 25-30% age 65 and over. At all ages, women generally report higher (though sometimes only marginally) rates of insomnia than men. Insomnia risk is also greatly elevated among those with long-term health conditions. Analyses controlling for age and gender, for example, indicate that heart disease, memory problems, depression and pain are all independently associated with an 80-150% increased odds of insomnia symptoms.
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