Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia: The Wilford Hall Insomnia Program

Abstract

Persistent insomnia is one of the most common patient complaints reported in primary care settings. This paper reviews the behavioral assessment and treatment approaches for persistent insomnia and reports the results of 42 consecutively treated patients in the Wilford Hall Insomnia Program. Patients were treated in a six-session, multiple-component behavioral group treatment program consisting of sleep restriction, stimulus control, sleep hygiene, relaxation training, and cognitive therapy. In addition, patients were seen for two individual treatment sessions in conjunction with the program and for two individual post-group treatment sessions to assess treatment progress. The results indicated that sleep onset latency was improved by 53%, wake after sleep onset was decreased by 40%, and sleep efficiency was improved by 22%. A detailed description of the behavioral treatment program for insomnia is provided as well as recommendations for practitioners working in primary care settings.