Insomnia
Insomnia Treatments Are They Effective?
Anna Badger
PSY 101
Dr. Yolanda Harper
4/1/2013
Insomnia Although there are many treatments available for individuals who suffer from insomnia such as, pharmacological, cognitive-behavioral, and psychological behavior therapies, some of these treatments are effective. A person can be a part of several studies and/or prescribed drugs, before they find one that can help them with insomnia. The individual can become dependent on the drug(s), the side effects of the drug(s) can do more harm than good, and the clinical studies can be different person to person. It is important to treat insomnia it can affect a person’s overall health, memory, cause the person to have a short temper which in turn can affect the persons personal/work life, and can cause anxiety in a person. While drugs can help the individual sleep, however, it can make the individual dependent on it even after the individual does not need it anymore, thus making pharmacological therapy controversial. Pharmacological therapy is the act of treating insomnia with drugs. According to Daniel Buysse he states, “Numerous prescription and nonprescription [drugs] have been used to treat insomnia (Chronic Insomnia, 2008).” The drug specifically used to treat insomnia is benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are classified by the FDA as “Controlled and Dangerous Substances.” As it states in Psychiatric Annals, “benzodiazepines have been a subject of debate related to their misuse, overuse, and abuse potential as a class 3.” According to Matthew Mitchell, “The most common approach to the management of insomnia is medication treatment… the advantages of medications are that they are widely available and, when effective, lead to clinical improvement rapidly. The disadvantages are the potential for side-effects, dependence, and tolerance over time.” Treating insomnia with drugs should only be used for a couple of weeks for short-term insomnia. One drug that
Anna Badger
PSY 101
Dr. Yolanda Harper
4/1/2013
Insomnia Although there are many treatments available for individuals who suffer from insomnia such as, pharmacological, cognitive-behavioral, and psychological behavior therapies, some of these treatments are effective. A person can be a part of several studies and/or prescribed drugs, before they find one that can help them with insomnia. The individual can become dependent on the drug(s), the side effects of the drug(s) can do more harm than good, and the clinical studies can be different person to person. It is important to treat insomnia it can affect a person’s overall health, memory, cause the person to have a short temper which in turn can affect the persons personal/work life, and can cause anxiety in a person. While drugs can help the individual sleep, however, it can make the individual dependent on it even after the individual does not need it anymore, thus making pharmacological therapy controversial. Pharmacological therapy is the act of treating insomnia with drugs. According to Daniel Buysse he states, “Numerous prescription and nonprescription [drugs] have been used to treat insomnia (Chronic Insomnia, 2008).” The drug specifically used to treat insomnia is benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are classified by the FDA as “Controlled and Dangerous Substances.” As it states in Psychiatric Annals, “benzodiazepines have been a subject of debate related to their misuse, overuse, and abuse potential as a class 3.” According to Matthew Mitchell, “The most common approach to the management of insomnia is medication treatment… the advantages of medications are that they are widely available and, when effective, lead to clinical improvement rapidly. The disadvantages are the potential for side-effects, dependence, and tolerance over time.” Treating insomnia with drugs should only be used for a couple of weeks for short-term insomnia. One drug that
References: Taylor, J. Daniel., & Roane, M Brandy (2010) Treatment of Insomnia in Adults and Children: A Practice-Friendly Review of Research: Retrieved from Ashford Library http:// search.proquest.com/docview Riemann, Dieter & Perlis. L Michael (2009) The treatments of chronic insomnia: A review of benzodiazepines receptor agonists and psychological and behavioral therapies Retrieved from Ashford Library http://search.proquest.com/docview Ebben, M. R., & Spielman, A. J. (2009). Non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(3), 244-54. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10865-008-9198-8 Macaluso, M., Kalia, R., Ali, F., & Khan, A. Y. (2010). The role of benzodiazepines in the treatment of anxiety disorders: A clinical review. Psychiatric Annals, 40(12), 605-610. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20101123-03 Ringdahl. N. Erika & Pereira. L, Susan & Deizell. E, John (2004) Treatment of Primary Insomnia The journal of the American board of family practice Retrieved from http://www.jabfm.org/content/17/3/212.full Buysse, J Daniel (2008) Chronic Insomnia The American Journal of Psychiatry Retrieved from Ashford Library http://search.proquest.com/docview/220479596?accountid.32521 Mitchell. D Matthew, & Gehrman, Philip, & Perlis, Michael, & Umscheid.A Craig, (2012) Comparative effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a systematic review Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/13/40