General Principles of Treatment

Establishing a Collaborative Relationship

A collaborative relationship between the patient and therapist is necessary because the clinical management of most sleep disorders…    

Types of Treatments

Treatments for sleep disorders generally can be grouped into three categories: 1) behavioral/ psychotherapeutic treatments, 2) medications, and…    

Medications

Numerous classes of medications have been used as sedative-hypnotic drugs. In current practice, benzodiazepine receptor agonists and antidepressants…    

Other Somatic Treatments

Continuous positive airway pressure and bilevel positive airway pressure Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway…    

Combining Different Treatments

For most sleep disorders, behavioral/psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches are not incompatible and can be effectively combined to maximize…    

Setting Realistic Goals and Expectations

Before initiating treatment, it is useful to examine patients’ expectations and to set treatment goals. The goals of…    

Patient Factors in Treatment Selection

Some sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, are best treated pharmacologically, whereas others, such as chronic and primary insomnia,…