Sleep restriction for the inpatient treatment of insomnia.

This study evaluates the efficacy of sleep restriction therapy for treating insomnia on an inpatient psychiatric unit. A depressed patient with concomitant chronic pain and severe insomnia was treated with a sleep restriction procedure. This procedure consisted of curtailing the amount of time spent in bed and then gradually increasing it contingent upon improved sleep efficiency. The treatment was found to be effective for increasing total sleep time from an initial baseline of 2.5 h of sleep per night to 6 h of sleep per night at discharge time. Clinical gains were well maintained immediately after discharge and at a 4-month follow-up.