Fast Five Quiz: Insomnia

CBT can be used to ameliorate factors that perpetuate or exacerbate chronic insomnia, such as poor sleep habits, hyperarousal, irregular sleep schedules, inadequate sleep hygiene, and misconceptions about sleep, and clinical depression. CBT is most effective for primary insomnia, but it is also effective for comorbid insomnia as adjunctive therapy. The AASM evidence-based practice parameter found that CBT (all components), as well as individual components of stimulus-control, paradoxical intention, relaxation training, and biofeedback, were effective.

A study by Buysse et al determined that brief behavioral treatment for insomnia is a simple, efficacious, and durable intervention for chronic insomnia in older adults. The treatment consisted of behavioral instructions delivered in 2 intervention sessions and 2 telephone calls.

According to guidelines, such as those from the American College of Physicians, CBT should be the initial treatment option in patients with chronic insomnia. CBT has also demonstrated success in weaning patients from hypnotics compared with tapering of medications alone.

Components of CBT include the following:

Sleep hygiene education
Cognitive therapy
Relaxation therapy
Stimulus-control therapy
Sleep-restriction therapy

Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Stephen Soreff. Fast Five Quiz: Insomnia - Medscape - Jun 05, 2020.

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