7 keys to managing chronic insomnia

Cognitive behavioural therapy as first-line of treatment for chronic insomnia is backed by solid evidence from randomised trials.

But before referring your patient for CBT, Australian sleep experts Dr David Cunnington and Dr Moira Junge suggest considering seven key principles for assessing and managing insomnia:

• Address anxiety about sleep;
• Address poor behaviour around sleep;
• Address fear of disrupted sleep;
• Look at predisposing dispositions;
• Consider comorbidities;
• Consider pharmacological options, but prescribe hypnotics only as a short