Cognitive-behavioral therapy for sleep abnormalities of chronic pain patients

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2009 Dec;11(6):451-60. doi: 10.1007/s11926-009-0066-5.

Abstract

Chronic pain and insomnia often occur simultaneously, with the vast majority of chronic pain patients complaining of interrupted or poor quality sleep. The need to improve sleep in these patients is clear, given increasing evidence that sleep disturbance is associated with heightened pain sensitivity and elevated disability. This article evaluates the efficacy of pain management programs (PMPs) based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and CBT for primary insomnia (CBT-I) in treating pain-related insomnia. Although PMPs effectively enhance pain management skills in patients, they do not adequately address insomnia. CBT-I has demonstrated strong efficacy in treating pain-related insomnia, but sleep improvement is not followed by pain reduction. As both CBT approaches involve strengths and limitations, a hybrid form of treatment is needed that simultaneously addresses pain and sleep.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain Management*
  • Quality of Life
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / complications
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome