Customer Reviews

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia: A Session-by-Session Guide

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Perlis and collaborators put together a succinct and practical book on CBT for insomnia. The book is aimed for clinicians, researchers and sleep behavioral therapists. This beautiful hardcover edition begins with defining insomnia and explaining the conceptual framework of CBT treatment. Then, step by step, the author explains how to perform 8-sessions of behavioral therapy. Each concept is reinforced by a sample dialogue; it is like having a coach next to the reader. Troubleshooting frequently encountered problems such as non-adherence is also explained. Then a sample case, session by session. To finalize, the appendices have useful clinical tools. All of these qualities make this book a must for sleep medicine fellows, or clinicians interested in CBT for insomnia.

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in the 24/7 world we live in. It's estimated that about 30% of the industrialized population has occasional bouts of insomnia during any given time and that fully 10% of the population has chronic insomnia. Although hypnotics can be helpful - they appear to be most helpful in transient insomnias (usually caused by transient stresses) which occur from time to time in people who are generally good sleepers. Hypnotics are also helpful in those with chronic insomnia but when stopped the insomnia typically recurs. In other words the effect of hypnotics is not a durable effect after the hypnotics are stopped.

Cognitive behavioral therapy of chronic insomnia, on the other hand, is every bit as effective as hypnotics (the effect sizes are similar) but cognitive behavioral therapy has durable effects which can be measured up to a year after therapy has been completed. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the foundation of therapy for chronic insomnia. Yet until recently, there haven't been many "good" references on how the non-sleep specialist actually provides this type of therapy. This book answers that need.

This book, written by several of the world's experts on insomnia, is a practical guide for the practitioner that describes the various components of cognitive behavioral therapy of insomnia (CBTI). CBTI combines aspects of sleep hygiene, stimulous control, sleep restriction, and cognitive therapy into an integrated approach. The session by session guide will be helpful to all counsellors - the authors provide a very rational and "doable" integration. Each session builds on progress made in the previous section. And the book has sufficient background information in the beginning to give most practioners a reasonable exposure to some fundamental principles of sleep medicine.

Practicing psychologists, psychiatrists, masters level counselors, primary care providers will find this book indespensible in their practices. The book is clearly written for practitioners and fills a very needed void in the practical literature on insomnia.

As a practicing sleep specialist, I give this book my highest recommendation. In fact, I've purchased several copies to distribute to health care practioners where I live - this book is a MUST read.

Great book. Easy to follow Effective I use the sessions as they are with little modification.

This book was reader friendly and could be used as a reference guide for clinicians. The research is solid.

This book is exactly what I was looking for. Perfect condition, quick turn-around and delivery.