How is insomnia treated?
Insomnia
It is important to identify or rule out medical and psychological causes before deciding on the treatment for insomnia.[67] Cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be as effective as medications for the short-term treatment of chronic insomnia.[12] The beneficial effects, in contrast to those produced by medications, may last well beyond the stopping of therapy.[68] Medications have been used mainly to reduce symptoms in insomnia of short duration; their role in the management of chronic insomnia remains unclear.[8] Several different types of medications are also effective for treating insomnia.[64] However, many doctors do not recommend relying on prescription sleeping pills for long-term use.[65] It is also important to identify and treat other medical conditions that may be contributing to insomnia, such as depression, breathing problems, and chronic pain.[65][69]
Psychological stress and sleep
Insomnia is a common condition affecting up to a fifth of the population in many countries across the world and is often complicated by a number of psychiatric conditions. Paradoxical insomnia is the phenomenon of a discrepancy between reported sleep duration and objective measurement of sleep. In some cases however the stress and anxiety produced by this perception does in fact result in an objective reduction in quality of sleep.