The cognitive therapy group saw a 54 percent reduction in their time awake after falling asleep, compared to a 16 percent reduction for the group receiving relaxation therapy, and 12 percent for the placebo group. The study also showed that the treatment leads to significant sleep improvements within six weeks, Edinger noted. The study used a total of 75 men and women with an average age of 55. Bootzin said the finding was particularly important as the American population ages. Doctors use hypnotism and drugs to help patients with problems staying asleep, but the long-term effects are not well understood.
Some doctors are reluctant to use either method for long periods of time.
Edinger, who also works at the VA Medical Center in Durham, said he taught his patients to follow simple rules designed to keep stressful thoughts out of the bedroom. Many of the patients Edinger sees have very full days, he said, and so he advises them to allot some time at the end of the day to wind down. He tells his patients to sit down with pencil and paper and work through the problems. It's very important, he said, to not take naps. All Rights Reserved.