SLEEP WELL FOR BETTER HEALTH
Medication is the standard choice for insomnia or sleeplessness. But a new study in the journal of the American medical association has found that short-term use of sleep medications combined with cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) was more effective in treating persistent insomnia. One hundred and sixty participants with chronic insomnia were given CBT alone or CBT plus medication for six weeks followed by an extended six-month therapy. During the initial six week period, both groups had same results. But in the long term, those who received CBT alone did better. The researchers concluded that best approach is combined therapy initially, followed by CBT alone. patients learned good sleep habits like going to bed only when sleepy, avoiding reading and watching television in bed, avoiding caffeine later in the day and going to bed and walking up at the same time each day.
January 25 2010 03:19 pm | Uncategorized