Can insomnia be cured by online therapy?

Up to half of us have problems sleeping – and some experts say online treatment may soon become the norm. But which tool should you use?Can ’t get to sleep? Try online therapy. While a glowing screen is a counter-intuitive cure for insomnia, there is evidence that online cognitive behavourial therapy (CBT) can restore normal sleep patterns. In astudy published in this month ’s Jama Psychiatry, an online CBT programme cured 57% of those who used it, compared with 27% who had standard education about insomnia.Insomnia affectsup to half of all people– with up to 20% having a serious problem with getting off to sleep (or falling asleep again if they wake up). Chronic insomnia can last for years – making people feel sleepy during the day and anxious at night. Standardadvice includes promoting “sleep hygiene”: a cool, dark bedroom; going to bed and getting up at the same time every day; and not napping. After that, it’s face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy – but there aren’t enough therapists to go round. This may be why people are still prescribed sleeping tablets that ma ke them feelpleasantly dissociated and are very addictive.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Sleep Science Psychology Health & wellbeing Life and style Internet Technology Source Type: news