Relaxation training is another CBT-I technique. “A lot of people tell me they have a problem quieting their mind at night, and relaxation training, which uses mindfulness meditation and guided imagery, can help with this,” Dr. Gentry says. In fact, mindfulness meditation, a practice that calms the mind and teaches patients how to focus on the present, has been found to be effective in reducing insomnia and improving sleep quality.5
“CBT-I has been shown to provide long-lasting results that exceed those of sleeping pills,” Dr. Gentry says. “And it’s a much safer alternative that also addresses the root cause of a patient’s sleeping problems.”
ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE
Linda Childers is a health writer located in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California.
References
- Gray SL, Anderson ML, Dublin S, et al. Cumulative use of strong anticholinergics and incident dementia: A prospective cohort study. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Mar 1;175(3):401–407.
- Billioti de Gage S, Moride Y, Ducruet T, et al. Benzodiazepine use and risk of Alzheimer’s disease: Case control study. BMJ. 2014 Sep 9;349:g5205.
- Kolla BP, Lovely JK, Mansukhani MP, et al. Zolpidem is independently associated with increased risk of patient falls. J Hosp Med. 2013 Jan;8(1):1–6.
- Trockel M, Karlin BE, Taylor CB, et al. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia with veterans: Evaluation of effectiveness and correlates of treatment outcomes. Behav Res Ther. 2014 Feb;53:41–46.
- Black DS, O’Reilly GA, Olmstead R, et al. Mindfulness meditation and improvement in sleep quality and daytime impairment in older adults with sleep disturbances: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Feb 16. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8081. [Epub ahead of print]
