Chronic insomnia affects nearly 16% of adults and up to 25% of children.

If you’re in this group, researchers from the University of North Texas list non-drug treatment options that will prepare you for your doctor’s visit.

First, the details.

• The authors reviewed the research in adults and children with insomnia.
• They list treatments with the highest level of research support.

And, the results.

In adults…

• Psychological treatment with the best research support:
  • Stimulus control
  • Progressive muscle relaxation
  • Multimodal cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Supported by less research:
  • Multimodal behavioral therapy
  • Sleep restriction
  • Biofeedback\paradoxical intention

In children…

• Psychological treatments with the highest level of research support:
  • Preventive parent education
  • Unmodified extinction
  • Extinction with parental presence
• Supported by less research:
  • Graduated extinction
  • Bedtime fading/positive routines
  • Scheduled awakenings

The bottom line?

Most people have probably not heard of half of these options or recognize them only vaguely.

A review by researchers in the US and Canada published in 2006 provides descriptions and discussions of these treatment options.

10/11/10 20:56 JR