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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Signs of Insomnia Quiz: How Well Do You Know Them?

Quick, free insomnia quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Vinska GmajnaUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of insomnia quiz prompt about common symptoms and signs on a sky blue background

This signs of insomnia quiz helps you spot common symptoms and what may keep you awake. Answer quick questions to build your sleep awareness and see where to learn more. If you want a broader view, try our sleep disorder test, explore the signs and symptoms quiz, or find your rhythm with a sleep type quiz.

What is the clinical definition of insomnia?
Short periods of REM sleep with vivid dreams
Frequent sleepwalking episodes
Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate night sleep
Persistent difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep resulting in daytime impairment
Insomnia is defined by chronic difficulty falling or staying asleep along with daytime impairment. It reflects both nighttime symptoms and their daytime consequences. Occasional sleep difficulty is common, but clinical insomnia requires persistent symptoms. .
Which of the following is a primary symptom of insomnia?
Difficulty falling asleep
Sleep apnea events
Sleepwalking
Night terrors
Difficulty initiating sleep is a hallmark symptom of insomnia. Night terrors and sleepwalking are parasomnias. Sleep apnea involves breathing interruptions, not the primary insomnia symptom. .
Waking up multiple times during the night and being unable to return to sleep is called:
Hypersomnia
Sleep maintenance insomnia
Early morning awakening
Sleep onset insomnia
Sleep maintenance insomnia refers to frequent awakenings and difficulty returning to sleep. Sleep onset insomnia is trouble falling asleep initially. Early morning awakening is waking too early. Hypersomnia is excessive sleepiness. .
Chronic insomnia is defined as difficulty sleeping at least how many nights per week for a minimum of how many months?
One night per week for one month
Three or more nights per week for three months or longer
Five nights per week for six weeks
Every night for two years
DSM-5 defines chronic insomnia as symptoms at least three nights per week for at least three months. This differentiates from acute or short-term insomnia. .
Which term describes insomnia not caused by another medical or psychiatric condition?
Secondary insomnia
Comorbid insomnia
Primary insomnia
Idiopathic hypersomnia
Primary insomnia occurs independently of other disorders. Secondary insomnia is attributable to another condition. Comorbid acknowledges coexisting issues. Idiopathic hypersomnia is a different sleep disorder. .
Which hormone plays a key role in regulating the sleep - wake cycle?
Insulin
Thyroxine
Melatonin
Cortisol
Melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland, signals the body to prepare for sleep. Cortisol is related to stress and wakefulness. Insulin and thyroxine regulate metabolism. .
What non-drug approach is considered first-line therapy for chronic insomnia?
Over-the-counter antihistamines
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Sleep hygiene pamphlets only
Magnesium supplements
CBT-I is the recommended first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, addressing thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. Sleep hygiene alone is often insufficient. Medications and supplements are adjuncts. .
Which tool is commonly used to assess the severity of insomnia symptoms?
Stanford Sleepiness Scale
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Berlin Questionnaire
The ISI is validated for measuring insomnia severity over the past two weeks. The Epworth and Stanford scales assess daytime sleepiness. The Berlin Questionnaire screens for sleep apnea. .
Sleep hygiene guidelines recommend avoiding caffeine how many hours before bedtime?
Only after dinner
1 hour
No restriction needed
At least 4 to 6 hours
Caffeine has a half-life of about 5 hours, so avoiding it 4 - 6 hours before bed helps reduce its stimulant effects. One hour is too short. No restriction can disrupt sleep. .
In stimulus control therapy for insomnia, which instruction is essential?
Exercise in bed to tire yourself
Watch TV in bed to relax
Use the bed only for sleep and sex
Stay in bed until you fall asleep
Stimulus control aims to strengthen bed-sleep association by limiting bed use to sleep and sex. Staying awake in bed worsens insomnia. Exercise and TV in bed create alertness or disrupt conditioning. .
Which class of medications is commonly prescribed for short-term management of insomnia?
SSRIs
Benzodiazepines
Proton pump inhibitors
Beta blockers
Benzodiazepines act quickly to promote sleep and are used short-term due to dependency risks. SSRIs treat depression, beta blockers for hypertension, and PPIs for reflux. .
Which condition is a known risk factor for developing insomnia?
Type 1 diabetes
Astigmatism
Major depressive disorder
Hyperthyroidism
Mood disorders like depression often coexist with or precipitate insomnia. Hyperthyroidism can affect sleep but is less directly linked. Diabetes and astigmatism are not primary insomnia risk factors. .
What does sleep latency refer to?
Number of awakenings per night
Total sleep time
Duration of REM sleep
Time it takes to transition from wakefulness to sleep
Sleep latency measures how long it takes to fall asleep after lights out. It is distinct from total sleep time and REM duration. Frequent awakenings are sleep maintenance issues. .
Fragmented sleep leading to unrefreshing rest and daytime fatigue is a feature of:
Sleep maintenance insomnia
Restless legs syndrome
Sleep apnea
Narcolepsy
Sleep maintenance insomnia results in fragmented sleep and daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea also fragments sleep but is a breathing disorder. Narcolepsy causes daytime sleep attacks; RLS causes leg discomfort. .
Which assessment device worn on the wrist can estimate sleep patterns over multiple nights?
EEG cap
ECG monitor
Pulse oximeter
Actigraph
Actigraphy uses motion sensors to estimate sleep - wake cycles over days to weeks. EEG caps record brain waves in labs. Pulse oximeters measure oxygen levels, and ECGs record heart rhythms. .
Which brain structure is considered the master circadian clock regulating sleep - wake rhythms?
Habenula
Substantia nigra
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
Amygdala
The suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus synchronizes daily physiological cycles. It responds to light cues via the retina. Other structures have different roles in emotion or movement. .
Jet lag insomnia primarily results from disruption of:
Circadian rhythm
Sleep drive homeostat
Sleep maintenance mechanisms
REM sleep regulation
Jet lag arises when travel across time zones misaligns the internal circadian clock with local time. Sleep drive remains intact but mistimed. It affects overall sleep timing more than maintenance or REM specifically. .
In DSM-5, which duration criterion must be met for insomnia disorder diagnosis?
Every night for one month
Only on weekends for three months
Symptoms at least three nights per week for at least three months
Two nights per week for six months
DSM-5 requires symptoms three times per week for a minimum of three months. This distinguishes transient insomnia from a disorder. Other patterns do not meet the formal criteria. .
The hyperarousal model of insomnia suggests that patients exhibit:
Elevated melatonin levels
Increased metabolic rate and cortical activation at night
Reduced heart rate variability
Excessive daytime napping
Hyperarousal theory posits that insomniacs have heightened physiological and brain activity at night. This contrasts with reduced arousal in normal sleepers. Daytime napping and melatonin levels are separate issues. .
How is sleep efficiency calculated?
Total sleep time divided by time spent in bed multiplied by 100%
Time to fall asleep divided by total time in bed
Total REM time divided by total sleep time
Number of awakenings divided by total sleep time
Sleep efficiency = (total sleep time/time in bed) × 100%. It measures how effectively someone sleeps while in bed. REM ratio and awakenings count are other metrics. .
Which neurotransmitter is primarily inhibitory and promotes sleep onset?
Serotonin
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, reducing neuronal excitability and facilitating sleep. Dopamine and norepinephrine promote wakefulness. Serotonin has mixed roles in sleep regulation. .
Which diagnostic tool records brain waves during sleep in a laboratory setting?
Actigraphy
Multiple Sleep Latency Test
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test
Polysomnography (PSG)
Polysomnography is the gold standard overnight sleep study recording EEG, EOG, and EMG. Actigraphy is wrist-based movement tracking. MSLT and MWT assess daytime sleepiness propensity. .
Neuroimaging studies of chronic insomnia have shown hyperactivity in which brain region during non-REM sleep?
Anterior cingulate cortex
Medulla oblongata
Occipital lobe
Cerebellum
Functional imaging reveals increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex in insomniacs, reflecting heightened emotional and cognitive arousal during sleep. The occipital lobe and cerebellum are less implicated. .
A polymorphism in which circadian clock gene has been associated with increased insomnia risk?
PER3
APOE
MC1R
COMT
Variations in the PER3 gene have been linked to sleep timing and insomnia susceptibility. MC1R relates to pigmentation, APOE to Alzheimer's risk, and COMT to dopamine metabolism. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Common Insomnia Symptoms -

    Understand the hallmark signs of insomnia, from difficulty falling asleep to early morning awakenings, using insights from the insomnia symptoms test.

  2. Analyze Personal Sleep Patterns -

    Assess your own sleep habits through the insomnia self assessment to recognize patterns that may contribute to poor sleep quality.

  3. Recognize Red Flag Warning Signs -

    Spot sneaky indicators of chronic sleep disturbance that often go unnoticed until they impact daytime functioning.

  4. Interpret Your Insomnia Quiz Results -

    Use the insomnia test quiz outcomes to gauge the severity of your symptoms and understand potential underlying causes.

  5. Apply Practical Sleep Solutions -

    Translate your quiz findings into actionable strategies to improve sleep hygiene and reduce nighttime wakefulness.

  6. Decide When to Seek Help -

    Determine the right time to consult a healthcare professional based on your results and red flag symptoms.

Cheat Sheet

  1. DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Insomnia -

    The DSM-5 defines insomnia disorder as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep (DIMS) at least three nights per week for three months, causing significant distress or impairment. This criterion is the gold standard referenced by the American Psychiatric Association and guides most insomnia self assessment tools. Remember the mnemonic "DIMS" to recall Difficulties Initiating/Maintaining Sleep when reviewing questions on your insomnia test quiz.

  2. Sleep Efficiency Calculation -

    Sleep efficiency (SE) measures how much time in bed is actually spent sleeping, calculated as SE = (total sleep time / time in bed) × 100. For example, if you sleep 6.5 hours out of 8 hours in bed, SE = (390 / 480) × 100 ≈ 81%. A SE below 85% often appears in insomnia symptoms tests and can highlight sleep fragmentation or poor sleep quality.

  3. Sleep Diary & Insomnia Self Assessment -

    Keeping a sleep diary for at least two weeks is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to track patterns and triggers in an insomnia self assessment. Record bedtimes, wake times, caffeine intake, and pre-sleep activities to identify trends when reviewing a symptoms of insomnia quiz. Consistent entries can make your answers on an insomnia quiz more accurate and personalized.

  4. Recognizing Daytime Impairment Signs -

    Insomnia is not only nighttime difficulty but also daytime impairments like fatigue, mood disturbances, or concentration problems, highlighted in journal articles from the Sleep Research Society. Look for these red flags when completing an insomnia symptoms test or insomnia self assessment to score your insomnia test quiz accurately. An easy mnemonic is "TAME" (Tiredness, Attention issues, Mood shifts, Energy low).

  5. CBT-I and Evidence-Based Treatments -

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is first-line treatment endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and shows 70 - 80% success rates. Key components include stimulus control, sleep restriction, and cognitive restructuring - remember the "S.L.E.E.P." method (Schedule, Limit, Environment, Engagement, Practice) when studying for a symptoms of insomnia quiz. Incorporating these strategies can boost confidence for both your real sleep habits and quiz performance.

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