The cognitive therapy component was designed to alter faulty beliefs and attitudes that often serve to exacerbate insomnia, and the educational component aimed to distinguish normal from pathologic sleep changes occurring in late life. The researchers report that although all three treatments were effective during the initial study period, sleep improvements were not equally well maintained across all conditions over time. Although such behavioral intervention is more time consuming than drug therapy, it is worth the investment because therapeutic gains are well maintained. The researchers call for additional research to further evaluate other ways to optimally integrate biobehavioral approaches in the management of insomnia. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and involves trouble falling asleep, frequent or prolonged nocturnal awakenings, or early morning awakenings with an inability to return to sleep.
Older adults report primarily difficulty in maintaining sleep.
Severe sleep disturbances are associated with fatigue during the day, impaired functioning, reduced quality of life and increased health care costs. When left untreated, chronic insomnia may increase vulnerability to major depression, and among older adults with cognitive impairments, it may even hasten nursing home placement. Fewer than 15 percent of individuals with chronic insomnia receive any treatment.