Psychological And Behavioral Therapies A Reliable Treatment For Insomnia

Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 05 Nov 2006 - 22:00 PDT

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Psychological and behavioral therapies produce reliable changes in several sleep parameters of insomniacs, and are, therefore, considered an effective treatment for insomnia. This finding confirms a review paper published in 1999 by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) regarding the efficacy of psychological and behavioral treatments for insomnia.

The latest study, conducted by Charles M. Morin, PhD, of Universite Laval in Quebec, Canada, focused on 37 treatment studies - enrolled by a total of 2,246 patients, 2,029 of which completed treatment - published between 1998 and 2004. Participants of the study were 18 years of age and older who suffered from insomnia and had at least one treatment of either psychological or behavioral therapy. Subjects kept a one-to-two-week diary for the duration of treatment and for an additional one-to-two-week period at post treatment and follow-ups.

The results consistently showed that treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation conditions were effective for primary insomnia, as well as insomnia associated with some medical conditions and, to a lesser extent, with psychiatric conditions. Treatment benefits are well sustained over time. There is still limited evidence, however, of clinically meaningful changes beyond the reduction of insomnia symptoms, such as improved daytime functioning or quality of life.

"Although behavioral interventions are not very well known and infrequently used in medical practice, the current findings clearly show that they are an effective method for treating a prevalent and costly health problem, and should be used as a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia," said Morin.

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Research shows that sleep loss is linked to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, depression, anxiety and diabetes.

Those who think they might have a sleep disorder are encouraged to make an appointment with a specialist at a sleep facility accredited by the AASM.

SLEEP is the official journal of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, a joint venture of the AASM and the Sleep Research Society.

SleepEducation.com, a Web site maintained by the AASM, provides information about the various sleep disorders that exist, the forms of treatment available, recent news on the topic of sleep, sleep studies that have been conducted and a listing of sleep facilities.

Source: New studies in the November 1st issue of the journal SLEEP

CONTACT:
Jim Arcuri, public relations coordinator
, American Academy of Sleep Medicine

For further information please go to:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine

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