Sleep & Habits · ~2 min · 7 items · Printable form

ISI: Insomnia Severity Index

Seven questions rating the severity and daytime impact of sleep problems over the past two weeks.

Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.

Form preview

Please rate the current (i.e., last 2 weeks) severity of your sleep problems.

1.Difficulty falling asleep
None (0)Mild (1)Moderate (2)Severe (3)Very severe (4)
2.Difficulty staying asleep
None (0)Mild (1)Moderate (2)Severe (3)Very severe (4)
3.Problems waking up too early
None (0)Mild (1)Moderate (2)Severe (3)Very severe (4)
4.How satisfied/dissatisfied are you with your current sleep pattern?
Very satisfied (0)Satisfied (1)Moderately (2)Dissatisfied (3)Very dissatisfied (4)
5.How noticeable to others do you think your sleep problem is in terms of impairing the quality of your life?
Not at all (0)A little (1)Somewhat (2)Much (3)Very much (4)
6.How worried/distressed are you about your current sleep problem?
Not at all (0)A little (1)Somewhat (2)Much (3)Very much (4)
7.To what extent do you consider your sleep problem to interfere with your daily functioning (e.g., fatigue, mood, concentration, memory)?
Not at all (0)A little (1)Somewhat (2)Much (3)Very much (4)

ISI scoring guide

Score	Interpretation	Suggested action
0–7	No clinically significant insomnia	No action needed.
8–14	Subthreshold insomnia	Sleep hygiene education; monitor.
15–21	Clinical insomnia (moderate)	Consider CBT for insomnia (CBT-I).
22–28	Clinical insomnia (severe)	CBT-I recommended; evaluate for comorbid conditions.

Clinical background

What it measures

The Insomnia Severity Index rates the nature, severity and impact of insomnia over the past two weeks: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, early waking, satisfaction with sleep, noticeability, distress and interference with daytime functioning.

How it is scored

Seven items scored 0–4 give a total of 0–28 (Bastien, Vallières & Morin, 2001). A reduction of 8 points or more is a clinically meaningful treatment response. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first-line treatment for clinical insomnia.

Reference: 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, 1993 — free for clinical use.