Stimulus control therapy
A set of instructions designed to reassociate the bed/bedroom with
sleep and to re-establish a consistent sleep-wake schedule: (1) Go
to bed only when sleepy; (2) get out of bed when unable to sleep;
(3) use the bed/bedroom for sleep only (no reading, watching TV,
etc.); (4) arise at the same time every morning; (5) no napping.
Sleep restriction therapy
A method designed to curtail time in bed to the actual amount of
sleep time. For example, if a patient reports sleeping an average
of 6 hours per night out of 8 hours spent in bed, the initial recommended
sleep window (from lights out to final arising time)
would be 6 hours. Periodic adjustments to this sleep window are
made contingent on sleep efficiency until an optimal sleep duration
is reached.
Relaxation training
Clinical procedures aimed at reducing somatic tension (e.g., progressive
muscle relaxation, autogenic training) or intrusive
thoughts at bedtime (e.g., imagery training, meditation) interfering
with sleep.
Cognitive therapy
Psychological methods aimed at challenging and changing misconceptions
about sleep and faulty beliefs about insomnia and its
perceived daytime consequences. Other cognitive procedures
may include paradoxical intention or methods aimed at reducing
or preventing excessive monitoring of and worrying about insomnia
and its correlates/consequences.
Sleep hygiene education
General guidelines about health practices (e.g., diet, exercise, substance
use) and environmental factors (e.g., light, noise, temperature)
that may promote or interfere with sleep. This may also include
some basic information about normal sleep and changes in
sleep patterns with aging