Online Therapy Effective for Insomniacs

Though the Internet may often be the last thing those suffering from insomnia may need to sleep through the night, a new study suggests it may also be the right tool for some.

In a small study reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, a novel approach to therapy was employed through the use of software called Sleep Healthy Using the Internet, or SHUTi.

This interactive program gives advice, including specific bedtimes, based on the user's sleep diary data, which is a summary of sleep over a period of days or weeks. The patients learn better sleep habits through stories, quizzes, and games.

In the study, 22 of 45 adults with moderate insomnia were assigned to the Internet program for nine weeks and the others received no treatment. Even after six months, the treated group woke up fewer times and spent less time awake during the night.

The therapy may represent a low-cost alternative, especially for those without access to in-person therapists. Its design is based on cognitive behavioral therapy which helps patients change thinking patterns that contribute to poor sleep. This therapy is often effective in improving sleep among insomniacs without the side effects of medications.

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