ABSTRACT
Many behavioral and psychologic interventions are effective in the treatment of sleep disorders, especially in the management of chronic insomnia.11-13 Some of the behavioral techniques have also been applied to insomnia associated with medical or psychiatric disorders, with positive results.11,14-17 In addition to improvements in sleep, psychiatric symptoms decreased.18,19 Widely applicable, behavioral interventions have been
used to enhance compliance with medical treatment in sleep-related breathing disorders.20,21
In this chapter, we will describe psychologic and behavioral influences on sleep, and the neurophysiologic mechanisms of normal sleep regulation. We will also provide a framework for the clinician to conceptualize the development of insomnia in individual patients. Further, we will review the behavioral techniques that are effective in the treatment of insomnia. Since there are some recent review articles on the treatment efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia,22-24 this chapter will focus more on the conceptual rationales and practical aspects of cognitive-behavioral interventions. Lastly, we will briefly review behavioral interventions for specific sleep disorders other than insomnia.
