Cognitive behavioural therapy improved benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic insomnia
Q In older patients with chronic insomnia who have been taking a benzodiazepine nightly for ⩾3 months, is cognitive behavioural therapy plus tapering (CBTT) more effective than tapering alone (TA) for inducing benzodiazepine discontinuation?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
not concealed.
Blinding:
unblinded.
Follow up period:
12 months.
Setting:
a university hospital in Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Patients:
65 patients ⩾50 years of age (mean age 67 y, 58% women) with chronic insomnia (⩾6 months); impaired daytime functioning or mood disturbances; nightly benzodiazepine use for ⩾3 months; and inability to refrain from taking a hypnotic for fear of poor sleep or reported <80% sleep efficiency (total sleep time/time in bed × 100) over a 2 week period. Exclusion criteria included cognitive impairment, severe psychiatric or physical problems, daytime benzodiazepine use, and consumption …
