An overview of the report of the national commission on sleep disorders research.

The National Comission on Sleep Disorder Research evaluated the status of insomnia and other sleep disorders in the US. The Commission found that insomnia is prevalent affecting 20-30 million Americans, has significant morbidity especially related to attention and memory processes and cost the US an estimated $ 15 billion a year. It also estimated that all of these figures should rise significantly by the year 2000. Other sleep disorders (eg, narcolepsy and sleep apnea) although less prevalent have significant costs to patients and society associated with them. The Commission recommended that the US develop a research and education program to develop new insights into the basic mechanisms of sleep disorder. The education program needs to be directed to the general public; medical practitioners, as well as patients.