People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, waking up during the night, or awakening too early, or a combination of these problems. The study is located at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Carl T. Hayden Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona but you do not have to be a veteran to participate in the research. The study uses behavioral treatments for chronic insomnia. Behavioral treatments do not involve the use of medication. Instead, participants attend 6 classes and learn how to reduce and manage their insomnia symptoms.
Participants also gain knowledge about sleep and the changes that occur as they age.
The goal of the study is to help persons with chronic insomnia to fall asleep and stay asleep during the night. There are several insomnia treatment groups in the study. All of the treatments were found through previous research to reduce insomnia. The aim of the study is to determine which treatment is most effective and efficient for persons in an older age group. This treatment program is provided free to participants as part of a research grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health.