Talk Therapy Benefits Insomnia Patients

Cognitive behavioral therapy, sometimes known as talk therapy can be effective as sleeping pills in treating insomnia, suggests research.

In fact, CBT has been shown to improve not only insomnia but also overall well- being and some symptoms of depression, Live science reported.

Insomnia — Overview
Difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep is known as insomnia. It is a symptom that occurs due to other disorders and can cause daytime sleepiness.

A recent study has also suggested that taking sleeping pills to treat insomnia may shorten people's lives.

"There are major benefits for CBT over medication," said Dr. David Plante, a sleep specialist at the University of Wisconsin.

"You have long-term benefits, even after the treatment is done, which isn't usually the case for sleeping pills," he stated.

Quiz on Sleep Disorder
The comfort of modern life comes at the cost of restful sleep! "Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone-Anthony Burgess" Scientifically it is proven that a good night's sleep is imperative for maintaining a balance between the physical, emotional and behavioral well-being of a person.

CBT can treat insomnia without the use of sleeping pills. With the help of a sleep specialist, a person with insomnia learns to develop good sleeping habits and is taught skills to cope with sleep anxiety.

Insomnia can last several weeks, and it can be a sign of other health problems, including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, substance abuse or mental disorders.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Measure your daytime sleepiness using this simple interactive tool, based on Epworth Sleepiness disorder Scale. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a type of hypersomnia characterized by persistent sleepiness and lack of energy.

"Chronic insomnia is a public health issue. With any patient, we try to weigh the benefits and risks of appropriate treatment," Plante said.

Although some studies suggest the use of sleeping pills can be dangerous, experts still see them as beneficial for the short term.

Sleeping Disorders
How many times have you stayed awake in the dead of the night counting sheep? If it is fairly often then you could be suffering from a sleep disorder!

"It's worthwhile to use sleep medications if someone is going through acute stress, or grief, for probably a month. But after that, they should be tapered off," said James Findley, a behavioural sleep specialist at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sleeping pills tend to work quickly in relieving symptoms, but they carry the risk of becoming addictive, Findley said, and they don't help treat the underlying causes of sleep problems.

"Some people have tried multiple medications, but they become less effective over time," he added.

While CBT is widely viewed as effective for insomnia, it isn't always available for everyone.

Often, people who live in remote areas don't have access to specialists trained in CBT, or they can't find a specialist within their health care provider network.

Furthermore, Plante said, "sometimes patients may not want to do psychotherapy. They don't want to invest the time."

Studies have shown that on average, it takes about eight weeks of CBT before sleep improves, according to Findley.

But unlike sleeping pills, results tend to last, and the treatment helps with the problems connected with insomnia, such as depression and anxiety.

In a study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, CBT was effective in treating up to 80 percent of people. Researchers also found that study participants maintained their sleep improvement for at least six months.

"We're always trying to minimize medication use and find other ways to treat insomnia," Plante said.

Source-ANI