Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Lessens Symptoms of Insomnia Among Young Adult Binge-Drinkers, According To New Study
A new study found cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia is a feasible intervention among individuals who are actively drinking.
Specifically, as indicated in the result, more than 50 percent of young adults are found at risk for alcohol-linked harm report experiencing symptoms of insomnia.
One of the first-line therapies for this condition is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT, although it has never been tested on young adults who actively drink alcoholic beverages.
University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers conducted an initial study to investigate the effect of CBT on young-adult binge drinkers who have insomnia to identify if this treatment can indeed improve their sleep and possibly impact use outcomes for alcohol use.
According to an assistant professor of psychiatry Mary Beth Miller, from MU School of Medicine, the potential for treating insomnia to affect alcohol-related outcomes has substantial implications for preventing and treating "alcohol use among young adults."
Miller also said that given the stigma linked to mental health conditions and addiction, it is essential to determine other treatment forms that either affect alcohol outcomes or "open the door to alcohol-related treatment."
A new study found cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia is a feasible intervention among individuals who are actively drinking.
The CBT Test
In a pilot study, Miller tested CBT of more than 50 individuals aged 18 to 30 years old, who reported at least one episode of binge-drinking in the past month.
In a Science Daily report on the study, it defined binge-drinking as "four or more drinks on one occasion." During this activity, participants were assigned randomly to either five CBT weekly sessions, a behavioral therapy program focusing on changing patterns of behavior and thinking; "or a single session on sleep hygiene," focusing on creating ideal sleeping conditions and developing a bedtime routine.
Topics during the CBT sessions comprised "sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, relaxation strategies, behavioral experiments," discussions on preventing insomnia and the use of sleep diary.
All study participants wore a wrist device each, to objectively gauge sleep. They also fully accomplished "subjective daily sleep and drinking survey.
DON'T MISS THIS: 6 Reasons Why You're Gaining Weight Unintentionally
Study Findings
As a result, the study authors showed that CBT participants reported more than 50-percent reduction in the severity of insomnia, compared to an over 30-percent reduction in symptoms for the participants who completed only the session for hygiene sleep.
Furthermore, the CBT participants also presented moderate improvement in terms of the objectively-evaluated sleep efficiency, following treatment, compared to the participants of sleep hygiene sessions.
Both participating groups lessened their dreams each week and alcohol-related consequences following treatment. Nonetheless, CBT participants presented more significant improvements in insomnia which, in turn, were linked to a decrease in alcohol-related issues.
These study findings, Miller explained, specify that treatment for insomnia may improve alcohol-related problems, and thus, maybe an ideal initial step toward therapy among binge-drinking young adults suffering insomnia.
Miller firmly believes that the data gathered in this particular study authorizes a bigger size of a study that looks at alcohol-related issues as a primary consequence.
Additionally, she is planning to identify if treatment for insomnia can help improve executive function, as well as the ability to control emotions, which in turn, might reduce the risk for problems that are related to alcohol consumption.
IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: Is Excessive Exercise Linked to Eating Disorders? Here's What Studies Say
Check out more news and information on Sleeping on MD News Daily.
Oct 21, 2020 08:00 AM EDT
