Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the best available treatment for insomnia. It is more effective and longer lasting than medications, without any of the possible side effects. Moreover, most participants are able to reduce or completely eliminate their use of sleep medication. CBT-I is a short-term treatment, typically lasting 5-6 sessions over approximately a two month period, during which patients acquire skills they can use throughout their lifetime. The treatment is designed to address the causes of chronic insomnia using cognitive restructuring, sleep scheduling, stimulus control, and relaxation. Patients tackle both the behaviors and thought patterns that can lead to sleep difficulties and also make them persistent and distressing.
Learn more about the research support for CBT-I:
Comparative effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a systematic review