Pill-free treatments can tackle insomnia and depression
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Psychological techniques used to combat insomnia in older people can also reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue, a new analysis has shown.
Behavioural sleep restriction techniques may benefit older insomnia sufferers.
The analysis, led by Goldsmiths, University of London, found that mindfulness-based interventions can potentially improve psychological wellbeing in people aged over 55 who experience insomnia symptoms. Out of other approaches not involving medication, behavioural sleep restriction techniques were also shown to potentially reduce depression symptoms in older insomnia sufferers.
A report of the research is published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.
Rotem Perach, study author and Teaching Fellow in Psychology at Goldsmiths said: “Our evidence suggests that pill-free approaches to treating insomnia can make older people not only sleep better but also feel less depressed, anxious, or tired.
“We also conducted qualitative anaylsis to identify which techniques show the most promise with practising mindfulness meditations in particular potentially able to reduce depression symptoms in older insomnia sufferers. What is encouraging is that such techniques may offer dual benefits to older persons by improving both types of symptoms.”
The team behind the study believes that randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of approaches such as mindfulness or moderate exercise in treating older persons with comorbid insomnia and clinical and subclinical depression.
The researchers involved in the report came from the University of Kent and University of Sussex in the UK and the University of Murcia and IMIB-Arrixaca in Spain. This research, supported by The Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust, was led by Alice Gregory, Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths and author of the book ‘Nodding Off: The science of sleep from cradle to grave’.
Image: Fresco Tours via Flickr.
Note: This article was edited on 24/10/2018 to take out references to the potential benefits of moderate exercise.