DRUGS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO PROMOTE SLEEP WITHOUT INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES OF INSOMNIA. INSOMNIA IN INDIVIDUALS INVOLUNTARILY INSTITUTIONALIZED IS A SIGN OF THE INDIVIDUALS' DEMAND FOR OR OPPOSITION TO THERAPY AND OF REAL DISCOMFORT WHICH CANNOT BE IGNORED BY ADULTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. INSTITUTIONALIZED ADOLESCENTS NEED TO FEEL SURE THAT ADULTS WILL HELP WITH THEIR PROBLEMS IF THE JUVENILES ARE NOT TO BE FORCED INTO A DOUBLE EXISTENCE, TORN BETWEEN THE SUPERFICIAL, CONFORMIST WORLD OF DOCTORS OR EDUCATORS AND THE VIOLENT WORLD OF THEIR PEER GROUP. TO KEEP THEIR PART OF THE 'CONTRACT,' THE ADULT SUPERVISORY STAFF MUST ABANDON BOTH THE MEDICAL APPROACH OF OVERUSING DRUGS AND THE DOGMATIC PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH (E.G., REGISTERING COMPLAINTS WITH SILENCE, THEN INTERPRETING THEIR MEANING). CAUSES FOR ADOLESCENT INSOMNIA ARE GUILT FROM SEXUALITY, GROWING DESIRES, AND MASTURBATION; A LACK OF ACCEPTABLE OUTLETS FOR AGGRESSION; GUILT FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED; MASSIVE FAMILIAL AND SOCIAL FRUSTRATION; AND A DESIRE TO OPPOSE THE ADULT WORLD. INSOMNIA AT NIGHT IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY EXCESSIVE SLEEPINESS DURING THE DAY. DISCUSSIONS WITH ADOLESCENTS ARE INTENDED TO SHOW THAT THE CAUSE OF THE INSOMNIA IS BEING SOUGHT BY THE INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL AND THAT THE ADULTS ARE READY TO LISTEN. FACE-TO-FACE DISCUSSIONS OR RELAXATION PSYCHOTHERAPY IN A RECLINING POSITION ARE POSSIBLE OPTIONS, DEPENDING ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CASE. RELAXATION TECHNIQUES, WHICH MUST ALWAYS BE ADAPTED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, INCLUDE DISPLAY OF INTEREST IN YOUTHS' HEALTH, DIRECT ENCOURAGEMENT TO RELAX, AND PATIENCE WITH RUDENESS. EVEN ADOLESCENTS' REFUSAL TO ACCEPT PSYCHOTHERAPY CAN SERVE AS A MEANS OF INDUCING THEM TO PROGRESS ON THEIR OWN. TOO RAPID A 'CURE' MAY LEAD ONLY TO ANXIETY TRANSFERENCE TO PSYCHOSOMATIC SYMPTOMS, AND EITHER EXCESSIVE AUTHORITARIANISM OR EXTREME PERMISSIVENESS MAY TEMPORARILY HALT INSOMNIA WITHOUT RESOLVING UNDERLYING PROBLEMS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SEVERAL NOTES ARE SUPPLIED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)