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A comparison of relaxation techniques with electrosleep therapy for chronic, sleep-onset insomnia

A sleep-EEG study

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Abstract

Two methods of relaxation therapy, electromyograph biofeedback and autogenic training, were compared to a nonrelaxation treatment, electrosleep therapy, in reducing sleep latency among 22 chronic, sleep-onset insomniacs. While none of the electrosleep patients improved on all-night laboratory electroencephalographic sleep records or daily home sleep logs, approximately one-half of the relaxation-treated patients showed marked improvement, which was sustained over a 1-month follow-up period. Although some sleep and treatment variables differentiated relaxation therapy responders from nonresponders, external stress appeared to be the most salient factor. Successful and unsuccessful patients could not be differentiated on any of the psychological variables studied.

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Reference note

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, Maryland

    Robert D. Coursey

  2. George Washington University School of Medicine, USA

    Bernard L. Frankel

  3. Private Practice, Chevy Chase, Maryland

    Kenneth R. Gaarder

  4. Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

    David E. Mott

Authors
  1. Robert D. Coursey
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  2. Bernard L. Frankel
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  3. Kenneth R. Gaarder
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  4. David E. Mott
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Coursey, R.D., Frankel, B.L., Gaarder, K.R. et al. A comparison of relaxation techniques with electrosleep therapy for chronic, sleep-onset insomnia. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 5, 57–73 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999064

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999064

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