A leading sleep researcher cautions against prescribing sleeping pills for insomnia. Professor Bjørn Bjorvatn says many doctors lack proper sleep medicine training. He heads Norway's National Center for Sleep Medicine at the University of Bergen.
Bjorvatn developed a new online sleep test now available to the public. The test contains over 70 questions and takes 10-15 minutes to complete. It provides immediate feedback about possible sleep disorders and treatment advice.
"Many sleep patients receive prescriptions for sleeping medication, but this is rarely the right solution," Bjorvatn stated. He emphasized that sleeping pills aren't recommended as first-line treatment for any sleep diagnosis, either in Norway or internationally.
The Norwegian Association of General Practice supports this approach. Their leader Torgeir Hoff Skavøy agreed that medication-free solutions usually work better long-term. He noted these approaches require more effort from both patients and doctors.
Sleep medicine specialists recognize six different sleep diagnoses. Many patients have multiple conditions simultaneously. Some also struggle with anxiety or depression alongside sleep issues.
The comprehensive sleep assessment covers sleep onset time, daytime fatigue, and breathing patterns during sleep. It asks about sleepwalking, nightmares, mood, concentration, and lifestyle habits including caffeine and alcohol use.
Personal information collected includes gender, age, and education level. Researchers say this helps identify sleep problem patterns across different population groups.
Bjorvatn clarified the test serves primarily as a self-help tool rather than research. Patients can share results with their doctors to begin appropriate treatment. The system uses secure survey software that protects individual privacy.
Medical professionals acknowledge the test's potential value while emphasizing its limitations. "Online tests can never replace thorough medical assessment," Skavøy cautioned.
The sleep medicine field clearly needs better patient education and doctor training. This initiative represents a practical step toward addressing Norway's widespread sleep problems through informed self-assessment rather than quick pharmaceutical fixes.