So many studies show how damaging sleep drugs continue to be. Here’s a brief summary of how CBT-i is a much better option. For those who struggle with the number one sleep disorder, insomnia. “The effect cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia on sedative-hypnotic use: A narrative review.”
Summary
Although cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) is the recommended ‘first-line’ treatment for insomnia, most patients are initially treated with sedative-hypnotic medications. Given the risk of impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance, serious adverse events, and long-term dependence associated with sedative-hypnotics, guidelines recommend that prescriptions should be limited to short-term use and that patients are provided with support for withdrawal where possible. CBTi is an effective insomnia treatment in the presence of sedative-hypnotic use. Furthermore, guidelines recommended that CBTi techniques are utilised to facilitate withdrawal from sedative-hypnotics. However, there is very little research evaluating the effect of CBTi on reduced medication use.
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