Adherence
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) significantly improves sleep outcomes and psychosocial functioning in patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) compared to waitlist controls, with effects maintained at 6-month follow-up.
If you have PTSD and chronic insomnia, standard CBT-I (8 weekly sessions) is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment that improves sleep and daily functioning. It is superior to waiting or using medication alone for long-term results. Key components include stimulus control (using the bed only for sleep) and sleep restriction (temporarily limiting time in bed to increase sleep drive). This approach is durable, with benefits lasting at least 6 months after treatment ends.
CBT-I was superior to the waitlist control condition in all sleep diary outcomes and in polysomnography-measured total sleep time. Compared to waitlist participants, CBT-I participants reported improved subjective sleep... and overall work and interpersonal functioning. These effects were maintained at 6-mo follow-up.
Why this rating
Randomized Controlled Trial with objective (polysomnography/actigraphy) and subjective measures, though sample size is modest (n=45).
Source
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Lisa S. Talbot et al. · SLEEP · 2014
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