Nonpharmacologic Therapy for Insomnia in the Elderly

Nonpharmacologic modalities may be used alone or in combination with pharmacologic therapy for effective treatment of insomnia in the elderly. Nondrug treatments involve behavioral, cognitive, and physiologic interventions. Common methods of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia include: relaxation, stimulus control, sleep restriction, cognitive interventions or therapy, sleep education and sleep hygiene, light therapy, and chronotherapy. Evidence suggests that nonpharmacologic treatments are effective and well suited for the clinical management of insomnia in the elderly.