37 - Self-help treatments for older adults with primary and co-morbid insomnia

Summary

Mental and physical health impairments are common consequences of insomnia among older adults. Self-help cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) treatments could play an important role in filling the treatment gap in the older adult population in particular. Self-administered treatment or self-help is defined as any therapeutic intervention that was designed to be implemented by the client and presented in a written, audiotaped, videotaped, or computerized format (or combination thereof). This chapter reviews the efficacy of self-help programs for primary and co-morbid insomnia. Accumulating evidence has shown that self-administered therapy delivered in various forms, including bibliotherapy, audiotapes, video- and Internet-based protocols, is on a par or only slightly less effective than therapist-led CBT-I. Several studies confirm that these interventions are efficacious in both older and younger adult samples, and with primary and co-morbid insomnia populations. A promising application of self-help therapies for insomnia, is encompassed in a stepped -care model.