Hypnosis Melbourne

Hypnosis & Insomnia

This study explores the usefulness of relaxation and gradual medication withdrawal in weaning insomniacs from sleep (hypnotic) medication.

We recruited 40 volunteers from the community who had insomnia, half of whom were chronic users of hypnotics while the other half were non-medicated. Half of all participants (10 medicated and 10 non-medicated) received progressive relaxation. All medicated participants received a standard gradual drug withdrawal program. Medicated participants reduced sleep medication consumption by nearly 80%.

Participants who received relaxation obtained additional benefits in sleep efficiency, rated quality of sleep, and reduced withdrawal symptoms. Medicated and non-medicated participants attained comparable, improved sleep by post-treatment and follow-up. Hypnotic withdrawal was accompanied by serious worsening of insomnia, but this dissipated by the end of the withdrawal period. The psychological treatment of hypnotic-dependent insomnia has high potential for making an important clinical contribution.

Behav Modif 1999 Jul;23(3):379-402 Lichstein KL, Peterson BA, Riedel BW, Means MK, Epperson MT, Aguillard RN Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, TN 38152, USA.