Combining Mindfulness Meditation With Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Medication Taper for Hypnotic-Dependent Insomnia in Older Adults

Abstract

Sleep medication is the most common treatment for insomnia in older adults. However, prolonged use of hypnotics has several negative side-effects and can lead to a pattern of tolerance and dependence. Recent research has found promising results for interventions that included both supervised gradual medication withdrawal and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for the treatment of hypnotic-dependent insomnia. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that incorporating mindfulness meditation can result in a more potent CBT intervention for insomnia. In this article, the authors describe and discuss the effects of a broadly focused intervention for treating hypnotic-dependent insomnia in an older adult. The treatment simultaneously targets insomnia symptoms, comorbid symptoms such as pain, dependency issues, and the discontinuation of hypnotic medication.