RESUMO
Most of the studies about chronic insomnia focused only on specific features, providing in this way a partial outlook of the problem. The aim of this study was to examine a sample of chronic insomniacs from different points of view, by estimating the prevalence of stress, psychopathological symptoms, psychiatric disorders, changes in quality of life and illness behaviour. Forty-three patients (54.4%) experienced some psychosocial stressors in the last 6 months preceding the enrollment in the study. More than 55% of insomniacs reported symptoms of psychopathology. One or more than one psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 61.5% of insomniacs. Life events could play a role in facilitating the transformation of a psychopathological symptom in a psychiatric disorder, since patients with a psychiatric diagnosis showed a higher percent of stress. The more noticeable disability in the group of insomniacs with psychiatric disorders and the absence of a corresponding worsening in illness behaviour suggests that insomniacs feelings about their health status are so negative to be not fatherly worsen by comorbidity in spite of a worsen disability. The evaluation of insomniacs should be as much detailed as possible, without neglecting tests for the evaluation of disability and illness behaviour, which are important not only for a correct diagnosis but also for monitoring the effects of therapies.