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Studies have established that cognitive-behavioral therapy is superior to hypnotic medication for the treatment of insomnia and that insomnia-focused CBT facilitates tapering and discontinuation of hypnotics while improving sleep. In this small study, researchers examined the effects of weekly group CBT on insomnia in 13 patients not taking hypnotics and in 15 patients who were tapering from chronic use of a third-generation hypnotic at relatively high doses (zolpidem, 15–70 mg). Zolpidem use was expected to end between weeks 4 and 6.
At baseline, both groups had comparable ratings of subjective sleep difficulties, anxiety, and depression; polysomnography findings were also similar in both groups, except for the expected increases in stage 3…