Behavioral therapy for insomnia effective

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia significantly improved sleep for patients with chronic neck or back pain, New York researchers found.

Lead author Carla R. Jungquist of the University of Rochester Medical Center said behavioral intervention can help patients who already are taking medications for pain and might be reluctant or unable to take additional drugs to treat sleep disturbance.

Patients with chronic pain often use sleep as an escape and seek sleep when not sleepy, sleep in places other than the bedroom and watch television.

For the study, a nurse therapist delivered the eight weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy, which included sleep restriction, stimulus control, sleep hygiene and one session devoted to discussion of catastrophic thoughts about the consequences of insomnia.

"This study really shows that this therapy can be delivered successfully and very effectively by advance practice nurses," Jungquist said. "Training nurses in the delivery of this type of therapy will result in better access for patients. Currently, access to this therapy is limited as there are few trained therapists and most are psychologists."

The findings are published in the journal Sleep Medicine.