Insomnia: Behavioral Treatment in the Elderly.

Overview

Sleep quality in elderly individuals is affected by increased mental and physical health issues associated with aging, but also a decrease in sleep drive and an advance of the circadian phase. These issues may, in part, be due to lifestyle changes in older adults, such as retirement and/or reduced social and physical activity, which can lead to spending more time in bed, resulting in chronic insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia has been shown to be an effective treatment method for difficulty sleeping in elderly individuals and should be the first-line treatment due to its efficacy and safety profile.