| Insomnia is the most common disorder of sleep. About one third
of Americans will experience at least 2 weeks of insomnia a year.
It is the job of a sleep specialist to help determine whether
the problem is the disorder of insomnia itself or is
the symptom of insomnia that is actually caused by another
disorder of sleep or other medical problem.
In chronic, long-standing insomnia, studies show that in the
long run, behavioral treatments produce more improvement than
medications. Behavioral treatments are usually simple, easy
to follow, and tend to produce helpful results in a short period
of time.
Untreated chronic insomnia may increase one’s risk for anxiety
or depression.
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I)
CBT-I encompasses a group of simple and effective behavioral
treatments for insomnia. After learning the details of a patient’s
insomnia history, a trained behavioral sleep medicine specialist
will individually design a treatment program that may include
any or all of the following: relaxation training, “sleep restriction
therapy,” improved sleep hygiene tactics, timed exposure to sunlight
or other bright light, exercise, and/or dispelling and changing
incorrect ideas about sleep needs and unrealistic expectations
of one’s sleep.
Related Issues
Other symptoms and potential sleep disorders that should be
considered in anyone experiencing the symptom of insomnia
include restless legs syndrome, snoring
and sleep apnea, psychological
factors such as anxiety or depression, and circadian
rhythm disorders of sleep.
Related Links: www.americaninsomniaassociation.org |
