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Insomnia is a common complaint among older adults, especially if chronic medical conditions add to nighttime discomfort. British sleep researchers devised a set of six informational booklets that were designed to teach patients basic sleep physiology and cognitive-behavioral techniques for overcoming insomnia, such as decreasing time spent in bed, using alarm clocks to regularize hours, and keeping sleep expectations realistic.
Almost 200 adults (age range, 55–87) with at least one chronic medical condition were randomized to receive either the six booklets mailed to their homes at weekly intervals or a single informational sheet containing basic sleep hygiene advice. A phone support line also was offered to the brochure group, although very…