Recent advances in clinical diagnostic features and mindfulness-based therapy of insomnia

Abstract

Mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia (MBT-I) alleviates sleep disorders by cultivating mindfulness practice (beginners mind, non-striving, letting go, non-judging, acceptance, trust and patience), training mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) exercises(paying attention to breathe, sitting meditation, body scanning, mindful walking and yoga), and learning cognitive strategies to adjust painful emotions. The stimulation control, sleep restriction and sleep hygiene, which are elements of cognitive-behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), are also being adopted to MBT-I. MBT-I is a group therapy which is held once a week for 8 weeks, 2 h each time. It may reduce the negative impact of physical illness or psychological problems on sleep, improve attention control and reduce excessive rumination, reduce sleep-related hyperarousal and enhance the ability of emotional regulation. It also teaches patients to accept present experience rather than make judgment, diminish attention about insomnia and not to make excessive effort to fall asleep. Key words: Sleep initiation and maintenance disorders; Mindfulness; Psychotherapy; Mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia