Towards quantitative cutoffs for insomnia: how current diagnostic criteria mischaracterize remission

This is the first study on the long-term course of insomnia based on the newly established DSM-5 criteria. A troubling implication of findings is that a majority of insomniacs stop meeting the diagnostic criteria despite continued sleep disturbance and impairment. “Remission” in these cases is attributable instead to tolerance of sleep symptoms. Incorporating quantitative criteria into current diagnoses may offer a more sensitive assay of treatment needs.