Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) — Sleep and Recovery Assessment

The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) is a brief, validated self-report questionnaire used to assess insomnia symptoms and sleep quality. It covers sleep induction, awakenings, total sleep time, sleep quality, and daytime functioning, producing a score that indicates insomnia severity.

The AIS quiz typically takes 2–5 minutes to complete because it consists of 8 concise items with simple multiple-choice responses about your recent sleep patterns and daytime effects.

Your AIS score ranges from 0 to 24. Scores 0–5 suggest no clinically significant insomnia, 6–10 indicate mild insomnia, 11–16 represent moderate insomnia, and 17–24 denote severe insomnia. Use the interpretation to guide next steps such as lifestyle changes or seeking professional help.

The AIS is a screening and monitoring tool, not a definitive diagnostic test. A high AIS score suggests the presence of insomnia symptoms and the need for further evaluation by a healthcare professional for a formal diagnosis and treatment plan.

Retake the AIS after making sleep-related changes, starting a treatment, or every few weeks to monitor trends. Regular reassessment helps track improvement or worsening of symptoms and informs whether additional interventions are needed.

Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line, evidence-based treatment. Other strategies include sleep hygiene adjustments, relaxation techniques, stimulus control, and, in some cases, short-term medication under medical supervision.

The AIS can still provide insight for shift workers, but interpretation should consider atypical sleep schedules. Assessments may need to be timed around the individual's sleep period, and additional questions about circadian factors may be helpful.