People with insomnia disorder experience numerous adverse effects related to their functional ability, personal life, social life, health, and quality of life. Among adults aged 45 to 85 years in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, those with insomnia self-reported more dissatisfaction with life (54% higher), more psychological distress (28% higher), and more poor or fair mental health (65% higher) compared to those without insomnia. 

The best available evidence recommends cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the first-line treatment for insomnia disorder. Despite the proven efficacy of CBT-I, prescribed medications are still the most widely used insomnia treatment in Canada, even though the medications prescribed might not always be appropriate. Evidence has also demonstrated that on its own, sleep hygiene is ineffective.

This quality standard addresses care for adults aged 18 years or older who have insomnia disorder (also known as chronic insomnia). Insomnia disorder is defined as distress or daytime impairment that lasts three or more months, and that is associated with one or more of the following: difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, or early morning waking with difficulty returning to sleep, despite adequate opportunity for sleep. This quality standard applies to all health care settings. It does not include care for people whose sleeping difficulty is better explained by a different sleep disorder.