Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
A validated 7-question screening tool used by sleep specialists and healthcare professionals to assess the nature, severity, and impact of insomnia over the past two weeks.
Who Is This Test For?
The ISI is designed for adults who want to better understand their sleep patterns and any difficulties they may be experiencing. It's commonly used in sleep clinics and research studies, but it's also valuable for personal insight and tracking changes over time.
- Adults experiencing difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early
- Those who feel their sleep problems are affecting their daytime functioning or mood
- People looking to track changes in sleep quality over time
- Anyone preparing to discuss sleep concerns with a healthcare provider or sleep specialist
Please rate the current (i.e., last 2 weeks) severity of your insomnia problem(s):
Difficulty falling asleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Problems waking up too early
How satisfied/dissatisfied are you with your current sleep pattern?
How noticeable to others do you think your sleep problem is in terms of impairing the quality of your life?
How worried/distressed are you about your current sleep problem?
To what extent do you consider your sleep problem to interfere with your daily functioning (e.g., daytime fatigue, mood, ability to function at work/daily chores, concentration, memory, mood, etc.) currently?
Good To Know
Your Bedroom is Only for Sleep
Your brain forms associations. If you work, scroll, or watch TV in bed, your brain learns that bed is for being awake. Reserve your bed strictly for sleep and intimacy. If you can't sleep after 20 minutes, get up and do something calming in dim light until you feel sleepy-then return to bed.
Consistency Beats Duration
Regular sleep and wake times-even on weekends-matter more than total hours. Your body's internal clock (circadian rhythm) thrives on predictability. Keeping your wake time consistent, even after a poor night's sleep, actually helps you sleep better the following night.
Racing Thoughts Have a Solution
If you lie awake with a busy mind, try a 'brain dump' before bed-write down everything on your mind for 5 minutes. This externalizes worries so your brain doesn't need to hold onto them. Relaxation techniques like slow breathing or progressive muscle relaxation can also interrupt the rumination cycle.
Understanding the ISI
T he Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was developed by Dr. Charles M. Morin and colleagues at Université Laval in Canada. It has become the gold standard for assessing insomnia severity and is widely used in both clinical practice and sleep research worldwide.
The ISI evaluates seven dimensions of insomnia: difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, early morning awakening, satisfaction with sleep patterns, how noticeable sleep problems are to others, distress caused by sleep difficulties, and interference with daily functioning. Each item is rated from 0 to 4, yielding a total score from 0 to 28.
Research has established clear thresholds: scores of 0-7 indicate no clinically significant insomnia, 8-14 suggest sub-threshold (mild) insomnia, 15-21 indicate moderate clinical insomnia, and 22-28 indicate severe clinical insomnia. The ISI is sensitive to treatment effects and is commonly used to track progress during therapy.
While the ISI is an excellent screening tool for insomnia severity, it does not diagnose underlying causes. Sleep problems can result from various factors including stress, medical conditions, medications, lifestyle habits, or other sleep disorders. A comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare provider or sleep specialist may be recommended for persistent symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the ISI?
The ISI has excellent reliability and validity, with a sensitivity of 86.1% and specificity of 87.7% for detecting clinical insomnia. It's considered the gold standard self-report measure for insomnia severity and is used extensively in both clinical and research settings. However, it's a screening tool-a sleep specialist should conduct a comprehensive evaluation for diagnosis.
How often should I take this test?
If you're monitoring your sleep, taking the test every 2-4 weeks can help you track changes over time. The questions specifically ask about the past two weeks, so more frequent testing isn't meaningful. If you're undergoing treatment for insomnia, your provider may recommend a specific monitoring schedule to track progress.
Can my score change over time?
Yes, insomnia symptoms naturally fluctuate based on stress, health, work demands, and life circumstances. Many people see significant improvement with proper treatment-particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which has success rates of 70-80%. Lifestyle changes, sleep hygiene improvements, and relaxation techniques can also meaningfully reduce scores.
What's the difference between occasional sleep problems and insomnia disorder?
Everyone has occasional nights of poor sleep. Clinical insomnia involves difficulty sleeping at least three nights per week for at least three months, despite adequate opportunity for sleep. It causes significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Occasional sleep difficulties during stressful periods are normal and usually resolve on their own.
Should I see a doctor about my insomnia?
If you score in the moderate to severe range, or if sleep difficulties have persisted for more than a few weeks and are affecting your daily life, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended. They can rule out underlying conditions, discuss treatment options, and potentially refer you to a sleep specialist or CBT-I therapist. Don't suffer in silence-effective treatments exist.
More Tests
Sources & References
- Bastien CH, Vallières A, Morin CM. Validation of the Insomnia Severity Index as an outcome measure for insomnia research. Sleep Med. 2001;2(4):297-307.
- Morin CM, Belleville G, Bélanger L, Ivers H. The Insomnia Severity Index: psychometric indicators to detect insomnia cases and evaluate treatment response. Sleep. 2011;34(5):601-608.
This self-assessment is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It cannot replace a professional evaluation by a qualified mental health provider. If you're experiencing significant distress or your symptoms are affecting your daily life, please seek help from a healthcare professional. If you're in crisis, contact emergency services or a crisis helpline.