| Cognitive Behavioral Theory, more commonly known | | | | pain. |
| as Cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT for short, has | | | | The team believes that insomnia isn't just a symptom |
| been found to help insomnia in older patients | | | | of osteoarthritis, but should be considered a |
| suffering with the pain (not to mention the disturbed | | | | coexisting condition. |
| sleep) of osteoarthritis according to new work | | | | Improvements in sleep can begin improvements in |
| appearing in the August 15, 2009 issue of the Journal | | | | other conditions, particularly important for older adults |
| of Clinical Sleep Medicine. | | | | who often deal with sleepless nights as well as |
| Cognitive behavioral therapy emphasizes the key role | | | | another health problem for which lack of sleep |
| our thoughts play in how we feel and what we do - | | | | doesn't help. |
| our thoughts (not things outside ourselves such as | | | | An estimated 60% of those with osteoarthritis |
| people, situations and events) cause our feelings and | | | | report pain during the night, and experts know that |
| behaviors. | | | | chronic pain is certainly involved in disturbed sleep. |
| With CBT you learn how to change the way you | | | | This lack of good quality, restful sleep exacerbates |
| think - so you feel better even if the outside | | | | chronic pain - a vicious cycle that's no help to anyone. |
| situation doesn't change. This makes the therapy well | | | | The findings of this work suggest that successful |
| suited to helping patients dealing with a chronic | | | | treatment of sleep disturbances can dramatically |
| (unchanging) condition like osteoarthritis. | | | | improve the quality of life and that CBT therapies |
| The study involved 23 older volunteers, mostly | | | | might be quite useful. |
| females ages 66-69, diagnosed with osteoarthritis | | | | Sleep is when your body detoxifies and the immune |
| and dealing with insomnia symptoms that had | | | | system recharges. Lack of sleep causes big problems |
| persisted for at least six months being assigned | | | | for the body, and the mind. |
| cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at helping them | | | | Insomnia has been linked to diabetes, heart disease |
| sleep better. | | | | and cancer, as well as being known to bring on |
| Twenty-eight control subjects, of the same age | | | | depression and thinking troubles. It may even shorten |
| range and also with osteoarthritis, were assigned to a | | | | your life - this according to a 2002 study that found |
| stress management and wellness program. In home | | | | people who slept less than 4 hours a night had higher |
| polysomnographic assessment was done to exclude | | | | mortality rates compared to those who slept 6-7 |
| potential subjects with sleep apnea. Neither of the | | | | hours. |
| treatment options directly addressed pain | | | | Better sleep can bring a variety of benefits, to both |
| management. | | | | body and mind, improving coexisting illnesses. "Sleep |
| The CBT treatment involved weekly two-hour | | | | quality is a major concern of people with |
| sessions with four to eight participants that met for | | | | osteoarthritis, with 60 percent of people with the |
| eight weeks in a row. At the start, and again at the | | | | disease reporting pain during the night... Whether |
| end, the participants reported on their sleep and pain | | | | sleep disturbance preceded or follows pain onset is |
| levels. The CBT group did one additional report on | | | | unclear, but reciprocal effects are likely," write the |
| their sleeping patterns and pain levels after one year. | | | | team of researchers. |
| The subjects who got the CBT reported immediate | | | | If you're coping with insomnia now, don't let it get |
| improvements in their sleep and pain after treatment, | | | | ahead of you. Do something today and maybe talk |
| and a year later. The control subjects, who | | | | to your doctor and ask how Cognitive Behavioral |
| participated in the other program saw no | | | | Theory can, as a more natural, prescription free |
| improvements in the quality of sleep or amount of | | | | alternative get you the rest you need. |