Objective: To investigate incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of insomnia and to compare the functional outcomes between insomnia and non-insomnia group in rehabilitation patients.

Method: Sixty nine consecutive admissions between May and June, 1999 have been evaluated. The St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire were employed and medical records of the patients have been reviewed.

Results: Incidence of insomnia was 60.9%. The most common type of insomnia was difficulty in maintaining sleep during the night (interrupted type). 66.9% of the total patients with insomnia had recognizable causal factors. The common factors influencing insomnia were somatic symptoms, environmental, and psychological factors. On discharge, lower FIM gain was noted in insomnia group even though statistical significance was not found.

Conclusion: Since sleep disturbances have been common to the rehabilitation patients, and may influence functional outcome, early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention may be needed.