Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F51.0
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist and a psychotherapist; referral to a sleep specialist or other relevant doctor if sleep apnea is suspected
- Format
- Video consultations and an online CBT-I program with a sleep diary; in-person tests when indicated
- Duration
- Initial appointment about 50 minutes; a CBT-I program usually takes 6–8 weekly sessions
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- When it is urgent
- Several days without sleep with confusion, agitation, hallucinations or thoughts of death — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- Falling asleep faster, more stable sleep, less daytime fatigue and less anxiety at bedtime
What you should know
In ICD-10, nonorganic insomnia is coded F51.0, while ICD-11 places chronic insomnia in a separate chapter on sleep-wake disorders. The key feature is not the number of hours of sleep in itself but the combination of nighttime sleep difficulties with daytime consequences: fatigue, poorer attention, irritability and low mood. Insomnia can be a disorder in its own right or accompany depression, anxiety, chronic pain and other conditions.
At Psychiatry Online, insomnia is treated by psychiatrists and psychotherapists via video call. The online format is especially well suited to this problem: the main method recommended by international clinical guidelines — cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) — relies on a sleep diary and step-by-step changes to your routine, which are easy to review remotely. A video consultation with a psychiatrist in Zhitikara helps determine whether another disorder requiring separate treatment lies behind the sleep problems.
Signs and Symptoms of Insomnia
- taking a long time to fall asleep — more than half an hour almost every night
- frequent waking during the night and difficulty getting back to sleep
- waking up early, long before the alarm, and being unable to fall asleep again
- a feeling of light sleep that leaves you unrefreshed
- daytime tiredness, sleepiness, poorer attention and memory
- irritability, anxiety and low mood related to lack of sleep
- worrying about sleep and feeling tense as bedtime approaches
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Causes of Insomnia
Chronic insomnia is described by a model of three groups of factors. Predisposing factors include a highly reactive nervous system, a tendency toward anxiety and heredity. Precipitating factors include stress, illness, life changes and shift work. Perpetuating factors are habits that develop in response to poor sleep: lying in bed awake for long periods, daytime naps, an irregular schedule and worrying about falling asleep. It is the perpetuating factors that most often keep the problem going.
Insomnia often accompanies depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder and addictions. Sleep is disrupted by caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, using devices before bed and certain medications. Physical causes include chronic pain, restless legs syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid dysfunction and frequent nighttime urination. Identifying these causes determines the treatment approach.
How Online Treatment for Insomnia Works
At the first video consultation, the doctor asks about your sleep schedule, when you fall asleep and wake up, nighttime awakenings, how you feel during the day, caffeine, alcohol, medications, mood and anxiety. You will usually be asked to keep a sleep diary for one to two weeks, on the basis of which the CBT-I program is built. It is convenient to hold the session in the evening from home; you will need a device with a camera, a stable internet connection and a private room.
Polysomnography and the tests needed when sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or endocrine disorders are suspected cannot be done online — for these, the doctor will refer you to the relevant specialist. Whether sleeping pills and other prescription medications can be prescribed depends on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the requirement for an initial examination. If lack of sleep is accompanied by confusion, agitation or hallucinations, call 103 or 112.
How we help
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
CBT-I is the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. The program includes sleep restriction (limiting time in bed), stimulus control, work on anxious thoughts about sleep, and sleep hygiene. A course of 6–8 sessions is delivered online, and according to research its effect lasts longer than that of sleeping pills alone.
Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
If insomnia is linked to depression, an anxiety disorder or PTSD, the doctor treats the underlying condition as well. Improved mood and reduced anxiety often normalize sleep, while CBT-I speeds up recovery. This combined approach is recommended by international guidelines for managing comorbid insomnia.
Medication Support
Sleep medications are considered for severe insomnia, when CBT-I is not effective enough, or as a short-term measure. Some sleeping pills can cause dependence with long-term use, so they are prescribed for a short course and under a doctor’s supervision. Choosing the group of medication and stopping it is done only by a specialist.
Sleep Hygiene and Routine
A regular wake-up time, limiting caffeine in the afternoon, not using alcohol as a sleep aid, reducing bright light and screens before bed, and a comfortable bedroom temperature all support the effect of treatment. On their own, these measures rarely cure chronic insomnia, but they are an essential foundation of the program.
Myths and facts
MythAlcohol helps you fall asleep
FactAlcohol may help you fall asleep faster, but it disrupts sleep structure, causes nighttime awakenings and lowers the quality of rest. Regularly using alcohol as a sleep aid raises the risk of dependence and makes insomnia worse.
MythIf you cannot sleep, you should stay in bed longer
FactLying awake in bed for long periods strengthens the association between the bed and wakefulness and anxiety. In CBT-I, on the contrary, time in bed is temporarily restricted so that sleep becomes deeper and more stable, and then gradually extended.
MythInsomnia can only be cured with pills
FactInternational guidelines name CBT-I, not medication, as the first-line treatment. Sleeping pills are used when indicated and in short courses, while the psychotherapeutic approach gives a more lasting result.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Zhitikara
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
An online consultation for “Online insomnia treatment” is available to people across Kostanay Region 24/7 — from home, work or while travelling. For an in-person visit, Psychiatry Online in Zhitikara has two branches: Building 24, Microdistrict 4, Zhitikara and 20 Aviatorov St., Zhitikara. Doctor home visits: all city districts and nearby settlements.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
When does insomnia need treatment?
If sleep problems occur at least three nights a week for several weeks and affect how you feel during the day, your work or your mood. Chronic insomnia rarely goes away on its own and raises the risk of depression and anxiety disorders, so it is better to seek help early.
Can insomnia be treated online?
Yes, CBT-I has been well studied in a remote format. Video sessions, a sleep diary and homework allow you to complete the program entirely from home. An in-person examination may be needed only if sleep apnea or other physical causes are suspected.
What is a sleep diary and why is it needed?
It is a daily record of when you go to bed, fall asleep, wake up and get up, and how you feel during the day. The diary helps assess your sleep objectively, identify perpetuating habits and set a schedule as part of CBT-I. It is usually kept throughout the course.
Will I get sleeping pills after a video consultation?
The decision depends on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the group of the medication and the requirement for an initial in-person examination. The doctor will explain which options are possible. Sleeping pills are not the main treatment for chronic insomnia and are prescribed only after an assessment of your condition.
How soon will I feel better?
In a CBT-I program, the first changes are usually noticeable after 2–3 weeks, although temporary daytime sleepiness is possible at the start of sleep restriction. A lasting result develops by the end of the 6–8 session course and is maintained if you follow the recommendations.
How confidential is the consultation?
An online psychiatrist consultation in Zhitikara takes place over a secure channel, and information about the patient is protected by medical confidentiality. It may be disclosed only in cases provided for by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At Psychiatry Online, the name you would like to be called is all you need for the initial appointment.
Where can I be seen in Zhitikara?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: Building 24, Microdistrict 4, Zhitikara and 20 Aviatorov St., Zhitikara. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
