Relaxation to Assist Sleep Medication Withdrawal

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 nonmedicated. Half of all p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavior modification 1999-07, Vol.23 (3), p.379-402
Main Authors: Lichstein, Kenneth L., Peterson, Britt Ann, Riedel, Brant W., Means, Melanie K., Epperson, Michael T., Aguillard, R. Neal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Anxiety Agents - administration & dosage
Anti-Anxiety Agents - adverse effects
Behavior modification
Benzodiazepines
Biological and medical sciences
Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal
Drug Rehabilitation
Drug use
Female
Females
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives - administration & dosage
Hypnotics and Sedatives - adverse effects
Insomnia
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Narcotics
Personality Inventory
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Relaxation Therapy
Relaxation Training
Relaxation. Biofeedback. Hypnosis. Selfregulation. Meditation
Resistance (Psychology)
Sleep
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - chemically induced
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - drug therapy
Stress Management
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - diagnosis
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - rehabilitation
Treatment Outcome
Treatments
Volunteers
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Summary: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 nonmedicated. Half of all participants (10 medicated and 10 nonmedicated) 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 nonmedicated participants attained comparable, improved sleep by posttreatment and follow-up. Hypnotic withdrawalwas 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.
ISSN:0145-4455
1552-4167
DOI:10.1177/0145445599233003