Cognisleep Consent for treatment
Cognisleep is a sleep therapy program that is used to treat Chronic insomnia. Cognisleep is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia, also called CBT-i.
CBT-i has been found to improve insomnia symptoms in up to 80% of individuals with Chronic Insomnia and 90% of patients have been able to reduce or stop using sleep medications after following a CBT-i program (Sleep Health Foundation publication Feb 14, 2023).
Sleeping pills are associated with significant side effects and they don’t address the core problem of Chronic Insomnia. Sleeping pills should only be used for a very short time. They are not a permanent solution for sleeping problems. Sleeping pills have been linked to memory loss, daytime grogginess, sleepiness, and in some cases, addiction. If sleeping pills are taken for a long period of time, significant side effects may develop (Sleep Foundation publication July 17, 2023).
Chronic insomnia is developed over time due to a combination of predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors. Predisposing factors include advancing age, family history of insomnia, female sex, certain lifestyle choices, and chronic stress. Precipitating factors include acute stress, illness, jet lag, or a psychiatric condition (such as an episode of depression) that may lead to poor sleep. Perpetuating factors develop due to the circumstances listed above, which include behaviors and negative thoughts as well as negative emotions that maintain the poor sleep cycle. Behaviors involving poor sleep habits such as napping and spending extended time in bed trying to force sleep can dysregulate the sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Negative thoughts and emotions often include unhealthy beliefs about sleep, which perpetuate sleep problems. Breaking this cycle for good requires a step-to-step approach that deals with the core issues that contribute to Chronic insomnia. (Spielman AJ, et al. A behavioral perspective on insomnia treatment. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 1987; 10:541–553)
Cognisleep addresses these core factors and behaviors. Cognisleep consists of 6 weekly treatment sessions. While you may go at your own pace, we strongly encourage our patients to finish the program within 6-8 weeks, as it is more effective when used this way.
CogniSleep sessions consist of five main components: Consolidation of sleep, stimulus control, cognitive therapy, instructions on sleep hygiene, and various uses of relaxation techniques.
Certain people may experience a temporary increase in drowsiness during the beginning of treatment, but it is short-term. We encourage patients undergoing Cognisleep treatment to avoid operating a motor vehicle or any other heavy machinery during this period if feeling sleepy.