DO you find yourself tossing and turning in bed as you search of the ever elusive good night's sleep?
Experts say behavioural therapy may be a better solution than looking for answers in your doctor's prescription pad.
Insomnia is a common and debilitating disorder that often has a big impact on mental health and overall wellbeing.
It often occurs in conjunction with another common sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Researchers from Flinders University have released a new set of clinical guidelines calling for doctors to explore Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBTi) as a means of treating sleep disorders.
"To get the ball rolling, our step-by-step model for GPs will identify, assess and treat insomnia with a Brief Behavioural Treatment for Insomnia program (BBTi)," Lead researcher Alex Sweetman said.
The team from the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health argue CBTi can have a big positive impact on insomnia, mental health and overall quality of life in a new paper.
The clinical review - published in the Australian Journal of General Practice, provides GPs with a description of a four-session insomnia treatment program.
It has been designed with consideration of the time limitations, knowledge and capacity of general practice staff.
Dr Sweetman and his team are currently running two trials to provide GPs with a suite of tools and treatment options to manage patients with insomnia.
Many patients with insomnia are prescribed potentially addictive medicines such as benzodiazepines.
But the team says a brief course of Behavioural Treatment for insomnia leads to long-term improvement of insomnia, mental health, and overall quality of life.
Chronic insomnia is characterised by difficulties getting to sleep, staying asleep, and/or early morning awakenings. It can lead to reduced work productivity, fatigue and concentration difficulties.
AISH and other sleep experts have also expanded research in search of better treatments for people with complex cases of combined insomnia, and sleep apnoea (COMISA).
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