Final answer:
Between 30% and 50% of the population may suffer from a sleep disorder like insomnia at some point, with some reports suggesting up to 70 million Americans could be affected by sleeplessness, signaling a significant public health concern.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the study of sleep disorders such as insomnia, it is found that a significant portion of the population experiences symptoms at some point in their lives. Insomnia is characterized by persistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep, and to be formally diagnosed, these symptoms need to persist for at least a month. Research indicates that, in general, between 30% and 50% of people will suffer from a sleep disorder during their lifetime, with insomnia being the most common.
Regarding the annual prevalence of insomnia specifically, studies have varied results. Some reports from institutions like the National Institutes of Health and articles in the American Journal of Public Health suggest that the rate of insomnia diagnoses and the prescription of sleep medications are on the rise, indicating a potential public health issue. The 2006 report from the Institute of Medicine noted that up to 70 million Americans might be affected by sleeplessness.
In the context of the study regarding depression or depressive illness where 9.5% of American adults are affected annually, it can be inferred that insomnia might have a similar or marginally higher annual prevalence given its commonality and the reported rise in associated medication prescriptions. Cognitive behavioral therapy is identified as a more effective treatment for insomnia than medication, stressing the importance of non-pharmacological interventions.
To summarize, while it's difficult to pinpoint an exact percentage of the population suffering from insomnia symptoms annually without referring to a specific study, we can conclude that insomnia is a widespread concern that affects a sizeable part of the population at some point. Treatment strategies are evolving, with an increasing emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy over medication.