Insomnia Disorder in Shift / night workers

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Insomnia prevalence 12.8–76.4% across shift-work studies; Shift Work Disorder 26.5% pooled, but SWD ≠ insomnia disorder
Is it more common among shift / night workers? Markedly elevated sleep problems
Are shift / night workers at higher risk? #N/A
How much higher is the risk? Shift workers: insomnia 12.8–76.4%; SWD pooled 26.5%
How often can it be missed? Very High
Does it show up differently among shift / night workers? Very Strong Yes
How might it look different? Circadian misalignment causes sleep difficulty at biologically inappropriate times; distinguish Insomnia Disorder from Shift Work Disorder
What commonly occurs alongside it? Shift Work Disorder; depression; anxiety
What can it be confused with? Shift Work Disorder; circadian rhythm disorder; insufficient sleep
Common screening tool ISI — Insomnia Severity Index
Separate screening tool for shift / night workers Shift Work Disorder Screening Questionnaire / ICSD-based SWD assessment if specifically evaluating SWD, not insomnia
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