What might a sleep study indicate in a patient suffering from insomnia?

A sleep study, or polysomnography, in a patient suffering from insomnia typically reveals abnormal sleep architecture or increased wake times. Insomnia is characterized by difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, which can lead to fragmented sleep patterns. In such cases, the sleep study may show an irregular distribution of sleep stages, with less time spent in deep sleep (slow-wave sleep), and an increase in the number of awakenings throughout the night. This disruption in the expected sleep cycle is indicative of insomnia's impact on the ability to achieve restorative sleep, demonstrating that the patient's sleep quality is compromised.

While some patients may experience decreased overall sleep duration, the primary hallmark of insomnia reflected in a sleep study tends to be the abnormalities in sleep architecture and increased wakefulness. It’s important to note that while normal sleep architecture and increased periods of deep sleep are possibilities in other conditions, they do not accurately represent the typical findings in cases of insomnia.