[Can the use of hypnotics be reduced? Systematic influence on attitudes and prescription practice in a psychiatric department].

Because of frequent use of hypnotics to treat insomnia in the population in general and in institutions especially, an alternative programme of treatment has been developed at the psychiatric hospital, Modum Bads Nervesanatorium. The programme includes different components and levels of treatment, wherein use of hypnotics is the last choice. The main focus is on sleep hygiene, which consists mainly of working on the patients' own attitude towards and experience of sleep problems. The pre-requisite for running such a programme is a systematic approach to these attitudes among the staff, and the prescribing patterns by physicians.