How is insomnia treated?
Treatment goals for insomnia involve improving sleep quality and quantity as well as improving insomnia-related daytime function.
Psychological and behavioral interventions are effective and recommended in the treatment of chronic insomnia.
Initial approaches to treatment should include at least one behavioral intervention such as
- stimulus control therapy or relaxation therapy or the combination of cognitive therapy,
- stimulus control therapy,
- sleep restriction therapy with or without relaxation therapy (also known as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia ).
Short-term hypnotic treatment can be supplemented with behavioral and cognitive therapies when possible and should be directed by the following:
- symptom pattern,
- treatment goals,
- past treatment responses,
- patient preference,
- cost,
- availability of other treatments,
- comorbid conditions,
- contraindications,
- concurrent medication interactions,
- side effects.
