Distribution of elements extracted from symptom patterns and characteristics of polysomnograph of common symptom patterns of insomnia with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution and combined regulation of elements of symptom patterns in the diagnosis of insomnia with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). METHODS: The samples were collected from the patients, diagnosed with insomnia, of Henan Province Hospital of TCM between June 2011 and September 2013. The symptom patterns in insomnia were extracted. Next, symptom differentiation, characteristics of polysomnography (PSG), distribution and combined regulation of these symptom patterns were conducted by tests. RESULTS: In total, 286 eligible patients were recruited. The main locations of the disease symptom elements were the brain and heart, and the main characteristics of the disease symptom elements were phlegm-heat, Yin-deficiency and Qi-stagnation. The elements from two or three symptom patterns were commonly manifested in patients with insomnia, especially from three symptom patterns. We also found that all TCM symptom patterns had an effect on polysomnographic indicators in PSG tests. CONCLUSION: The elements of symptom patterns in insomnia were identified as mainly fire-heat and phlegm-heat. The most common patterns of excess were pathogenic fire derived from stagnation of liver- Qi, and mental disturbance due to phlegm-heat, while the most common patterns of deficiency in both the heart and the spleen. There are many differences in PSG indicators of different syndrome patterns of insomnia.