Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): Evidence-Based Sleep Treatment
What Is CBT-I and How Effective Is It for Treating Chronic Insomnia?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the most effective evidence-based treatment for chronic insomnia, with research showing 70-80% of patients experiencing significant improvement and 60% achieving normal sleep patterns. CBT-I combines behavioral techniques like sleep restriction and stimulus control with cognitive strategies to address the thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate insomnia. Unlike sleep medications, CBT-I provides lasting benefits that continue long after treatment ends, making it the gold standard first-line treatment recommended by major medical organizations for chronic insomnia.