Treatment options for insomnia in children and adults
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