A Practical Application Primer on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia for Medical Residents

• DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10862
• Publication Date: 2019-12-16T18:14:26Z
• Authors: Yelena Chernyak
• Keywords: Medicine (General); Insomnia; Lifestyle Medicine; Health Personnel; Original Publication; Education; 03 medical and health sciences; Evidence-Based Medicine/Knowledge Translation; R5-920; 0302 clinical medicine; Integrated Behavioral Health; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Sleep Medicine Specialty; Psychiatry; Evidence-Based Medicine; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Education, Medical; Primary Health Care; 302; Internship and Residency; L; 3. Good health; Knowledge; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Interprofessional Education; Sleep; Well-Being/Mental Health

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a well-established nonpharmacological intervention that is the gold standard treatment for insomnia. CBT-I has been utilized and empirically validated in many modalities, including group treatment, telemedicine, and primary care. Despite the wealth of evidence on its effectiveness, many medical providers, including those in primary care, where most insomnia complaints are raised, have limited exposure, knowledge, and resources to direct or implement this intervention.Medical educators from an academic medical center developed a module focused on teaching medical residents the techniques of CBT-I. The educational activity was an interactive 90-minute seminar that included a lecture followed by a case presentation illustrating the application of medical knowledge. A postseminar survey was used to evaluate the topic and content of the seminar.In a survey of 32 primary care and psychiatry residents and sleep medicine fellows, 97% of respondents indicated that the topic of CBT-I should be included in the seminar series, and 84% indicated that the topic was of interest to them. Qualitative feedback underscored the relevance of this topic to trainees' clinical practice, as well as its underratedness.The seminar on CBT-I was well received and viewed as a valuable tool in practicing medicine. The slides and vignettes provided enable replication of this workshop in other settings with medical learners who have a cursory knowledge of sleep medicine. The workshop is applicable to other health professionals, including medical students, nurses, social workers, and psychology trainees.