Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI)

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) guides patients through a series of changes in sleep-related behaviors. The focus is on addressing the three factors that contribute to the persistence of insomnia:

1. Conditioned arousal
2. Identifying and eliminating habits that were developed in an effort to improve sleep but have become ineffective.
3. Reducing sleep-related worry and other sources of heightened arousal.

The therapist identifies the most relevant targets for behavior changes, and helps patients overcome obstacles to making the necessary and often difficult changes in sleep-related behaviors. This means that individual patients can concentrate their energy on changes that are most likely to produce improvements in their sleep. Sometimes the therapist helps patients re-evaluate beliefs about sleep that might be causing unnecessary anxiety.

The majority of patients respond to this treatment fairly quickly. Some experience significant changes after only two therapy sessions. Most improve after four to six sessions, but some might need more. Both group and individual treatments are effective.

Below is a list of some of the instructions and procedures used in CBTI: