Posted by & filed under Brain Structure and Function, Psychology Update, States of Consciousness.

TITLE

Insomnia treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy instead of sleeping pills

 

DESCRIPTION

Though this article is a few years old, it highlights an important development in the treatment of sleep disorders:  Cognitive behavioral therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).  “Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, sometimes called CBT-I, is an effective treatment for chronic sleep problems and is usually recommended as the first line of treatment.”  Cognitive Therapy has become one of the most profoundly effective forms of psychotherapy, and when combined with behavioral techniques (CBT), it has become the most widely empirically validated effective therapy.  In the past few years, new research has tested CBT as a way to treat sleep disorders.  “The cognitive part of CBT-I teaches you to recognize and change beliefs that affect your ability to sleep. This type of therapy can help you control or eliminate negative thoughts and worries that keep you awake. The behavioral part of CBT-I helps you develop good sleep habits and avoid behaviors that keep you from sleeping well.”

 

SOURCE

Mayo Clinic, September 28, 2016, by the Mayo Clinic Staff

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/in-depth/insomnia-treatment/art-20046677

 

(Tiny URL) https://tinyurl.com/yjaurpfm

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•According to the article, what is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)?

•What are some of the principles of CBT-I?

•Why has it been found more effective than sleeping medication?

•If you were a CBT-I practitioner, what advice would you give to a client experiencing insomnia? 

 

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