Latest news with #CBT-I
The Guardian
a day ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Black-market melatonin use points to the need for a national sleep strategy
Your article on the rise of black-market melatonin use among parents highlights a troubling reality: families are being left with nowhere to turn when it comes to safe, effective sleep support ('I feel like a drug dealer': the parents using black-market melatonin to help their children sleep, 15 June). Our report Dreaming of Change: A Manifesto for Sleep revealed that nine out of 10 UK adults now experience sleep issues. Around 14 million people may be living with undiagnosed insomnia, and yet just one in six of those with symptoms has received a formal diagnosis. Despite National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidance recommending cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the first-line treatment since at least 2009, face-to-face is rarely available on the NHS. Nice has also recommended cost-saving digital CBT-I for over three years and yet this has still not been funded for patients nationally. Without access to effective non-drug interventions, families are turning to unregulated sleep aids out of desperation. But melatonin is not a catch-all solution – and unsupervised use, particularly in children, carries risks. We urgently need a national sleep strategy. That includes national availability of digital CBT-I, funding for CBT-I in every local integrated care board in the NHS, public health campaigns to improve sleep literacy, and better training for GPs, who are often left with little choice but to prescribe medication. Despite the known harms and guidance advising on their risks, NHS data shows that over 5m prescriptions for sleeping pills are still written each year, and the number of children receiving these drugs has tripled since 2015. Parents should not have to rely on imported supplements to help their children sleep. Sleep is a fundamental part of health, not a luxury. It's time the government treated it that BeeversCEO, The Sleep Charity Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CBT-I works for '70% of patients' — the Headspace Sleep Advisor on therapy for insomnia
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12% of US adults are diagnosed with chronic insomnia, a disorder that makes falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. While treatment for insomnia can include medication, more and more people are turning to CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia). This form of therapy is designed to address the root factors contributing to insomnia, rather than just medicating symptoms. But how effective is it? We spoke to Dr Aric Prather, Sleep Advisor to wellness app Headspace, and the Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program at the University of California at San Francisco, to find out more following the launch of Headspace's new CBT-I sleep programme Finding Your Best Sleep. Here's what he told us... "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard empirically supported treatment for insomnia, and should be the first line treatment for individuals with insomnia before embarking on pharmacologic treatment," says Dr Aric. CBT-I also addresses the anxiety that develops with unpredictable sleep "Unlike hypnotic medication, CBT-I addresses the perpetuating factors that drive insomnia, and provides the patient with science-backed strategies to improve sleep by consolidating sleep and entraining their circadian rhythm. "CBT-I also addresses the anxiety that develops with unpredictable sleep by incorporating relaxation techniques and psychological strategies like cognitive restructuring. "The goal is to help patients better regulate their sleep, find some success in sleeping, and build confidence and resilience." "CBT-I focuses specifically on sleep and insomnia symptoms. Unlike other CBT therapies, CBT-I is heavily behavioral. We know quite a bit about what regulates our sleep biologically, so that's where we start. "Focusing on standardizing someone's wake up time, implementing stimulus control to reduce cognitive arousal in bed, and tracking sleep behavior via a sleep diary followed by restricting their time in bed to increase sleep consolidation can go a long way towards increasing the predictability at nighttime and reducing anxiety prior to and during the night." "CBT-I can certainly improve anxiety symptoms. In fact, several clinical trials demonstrate that individuals randomized to CBT-I show significant reductions in anxiety symptoms compared to those randomized to control conditions. "This isn't surprising given that poor sleep often leaves people more 'on edge' and anxious. Headspace also offers a guided program specifically for anxiety and depression, the CBT for Anxiety & Depression program, which incorporates CBT techniques specific to improving anxiety and depression symptoms. "The course has been shown to decrease anxiety & depression symptoms, improve sleep quality and positively impact mental health and wellbeing (results currently being prepared for peer review)." "Some people tend to benefit more from CBT-I than others, though much more research is needed to clarify these differences. There is little downside [to CBT-I], and it's likely to provide you with a greater sense of control over your sleep "There is some evidence that shorter sleepers with insomnia- those sleeping less than six hours, for example- may struggle with CBT-I more than longer sleepers. "This is likely because one of the active mechanisms for why CBT-I is effective is through time in bed restriction, which may not be as powerful in those already getting little sleep. "In my clinical experience, CBT-I may also be less effective in individuals with complex psychiatric or medical presentations. "In some cases there may be conditions or medications that are impacting sleep where CBT-I may not completely resolve the sleep concern." "While CBT-I remains the gold standard for treating insomnia, it isn't always accessible. Headspace's sleep course 'Finding Your Best Sleep' was created to expand low-cost access to effective sleep support. Unlike sleep medications, CBT-I does not carry any long term risk "The course expands access to proven sleep support by offering expert-led, self-guided sessions that can be completed anytime, anywhere. Included with a Headspace membership, it offers flexibility and affordability—removing common barriers to care. "The course has been clinically proven to improve insomnia after practicing just 10 minutes a day over the course of 18 days. "I hope that anyone who is struggling with insomnia will consider a trial of CBT-I in any way that is accessible to them. There is little downside, and is likely to provide you with a greater sense of control over your sleep experience. "Unlike sleep medications, CBT-I does not carry any long term risk. Moreover, the strategies learned through CBT-I can be useful well into the future and sleep changes as our lives unfold." "My suspicion is that stress and feelings of uncertainty are the most likely culprits of insomnia. For so many- too many- we feel like we are in a state of hypervigilance, and this results in nights of disturbed sleep. In turn, we often lack the emotional resources to deal with the stressors the following day, leading to yet another night of poor sleep. Thankfully, programs like CBT-I can help provide a roadmap to better regulate our sleep, and when coupled with stress management strategies, can help us cope with this stressful world." "First, I would say that they are not alone. In fact at least 30% of adults, if not more, are not getting adequate sleep. The second piece of advice is to take stock of your sleep life. Is it that you are getting sleep but don't feel refreshed? At least 30% of adults, if not more, are not getting adequate sleep "Is something disrupting your sleep? Are you so pressed for time that you are not giving yourself enough opportunity? The answer to these questions will lead to different solutions. "If you are worried about your sleep, the first step could be to talk to your doctor to make sure that you don't have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, disrupting your sleep. "If not and you're looking for a personalised approach, consider trying CBT-I through a sleep specialist, I always suggest that people explore the Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine directory to find someone in their region."
Tom's Guide
07-06-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
'CBT-I is the gold-standard treatment for insomnia' — an expert shares his go-to method for helping people with sleep disturbances
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12% of US adults are diagnosed with chronic insomnia, a disorder that makes falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. While treatment for insomnia can include medication, more and more people are turning to CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia). This form of therapy is designed to address the root factors contributing to insomnia, rather than just medicating symptoms. But how effective is it? We spoke to Dr Aric Prather, Sleep Advisor to wellness app Headspace, and the Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program at the University of California at San Francisco, to find out more following the launch of Headspace's new CBT-I sleep programme Finding Your Best Sleep. Here's what he told us... "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard empirically supported treatment for insomnia, and should be the first line treatment for individuals with insomnia before embarking on pharmacologic treatment," says Dr Aric. CBT-I also addresses the anxiety that develops with unpredictable sleep "Unlike hypnotic medication, CBT-I addresses the perpetuating factors that drive insomnia, and provides the patient with science-backed strategies to improve sleep by consolidating sleep and entraining their circadian rhythm. "CBT-I also addresses the anxiety that develops with unpredictable sleep by incorporating relaxation techniques and psychological strategies like cognitive restructuring. "The goal is to help patients better regulate their sleep, find some success in sleeping, and build confidence and resilience." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "CBT-I focuses specifically on sleep and insomnia symptoms. Unlike other CBT therapies, CBT-I is heavily behavioral. We know quite a bit about what regulates our sleep biologically, so that's where we start. "Focusing on standardizing someone's wake up time, implementing stimulus control to reduce cognitive arousal in bed, and tracking sleep behavior via a sleep diary followed by restricting their time in bed to increase sleep consolidation can go a long way towards increasing the predictability at nighttime and reducing anxiety prior to and during the night." "CBT-I can certainly improve anxiety symptoms. In fact, several clinical trials demonstrate that individuals randomized to CBT-I show significant reductions in anxiety symptoms compared to those randomized to control conditions. "This isn't surprising given that poor sleep often leaves people more 'on edge' and anxious. Headspace also offers a guided program specifically for anxiety and depression, the CBT for Anxiety & Depression program, which incorporates CBT techniques specific to improving anxiety and depression symptoms. "The course has been shown to decrease anxiety & depression symptoms, improve sleep quality and positively impact mental health and wellbeing (results currently being prepared for peer review)." "Some people tend to benefit more from CBT-I than others, though much more research is needed to clarify these differences. There is little downside [to CBT-I], and it's likely to provide you with a greater sense of control over your sleep "There is some evidence that shorter sleepers with insomnia- those sleeping less than six hours, for example- may struggle with CBT-I more than longer sleepers. "This is likely because one of the active mechanisms for why CBT-I is effective is through time in bed restriction, which may not be as powerful in those already getting little sleep. "In my clinical experience, CBT-I may also be less effective in individuals with complex psychiatric or medical presentations. "In some cases there may be conditions or medications that are impacting sleep where CBT-I may not completely resolve the sleep concern." "While CBT-I remains the gold standard for treating insomnia, it isn't always accessible. Headspace's sleep course 'Finding Your Best Sleep' was created to expand low-cost access to effective sleep support. Unlike sleep medications, CBT-I does not carry any long term risk "The course expands access to proven sleep support by offering expert-led, self-guided sessions that can be completed anytime, anywhere. Included with a Headspace membership, it offers flexibility and affordability—removing common barriers to care. "The course has been clinically proven to improve insomnia after practicing just 10 minutes a day over the course of 18 days. "I hope that anyone who is struggling with insomnia will consider a trial of CBT-I in any way that is accessible to them. There is little downside, and is likely to provide you with a greater sense of control over your sleep experience. "Unlike sleep medications, CBT-I does not carry any long term risk. Moreover, the strategies learned through CBT-I can be useful well into the future and sleep changes as our lives unfold." "My suspicion is that stress and feelings of uncertainty are the most likely culprits of insomnia. For so many- too many- we feel like we are in a state of hypervigilance, and this results in nights of disturbed sleep. In turn, we often lack the emotional resources to deal with the stressors the following day, leading to yet another night of poor sleep. Thankfully, programs like CBT-I can help provide a roadmap to better regulate our sleep, and when coupled with stress management strategies, can help us cope with this stressful world." "First, I would say that they are not alone. In fact at least 30% of adults, if not more, are not getting adequate sleep. The second piece of advice is to take stock of your sleep life. Is it that you are getting sleep but don't feel refreshed? At least 30% of adults, if not more, are not getting adequate sleep "Is something disrupting your sleep? Are you so pressed for time that you are not giving yourself enough opportunity? The answer to these questions will lead to different solutions. "If you are worried about your sleep, the first step could be to talk to your doctor to make sure that you don't have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, disrupting your sleep. "If not and you're looking for a personalised approach, consider trying CBT-I through a sleep specialist, I always suggest that people explore the Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine directory to find someone in their region."
India Today
13-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Railway Recruitment: Non-technical popular categories graduate exam schedule out
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the exam dates for the much-awaited RRB NTPC 2025 Computer-Based Test (CBT-I) for graduate-level positions. The exam will be held from June 5 to June 23, 2025, across various is part of the recruitment process for multiple non-technical popular category roles like goods guard, senior commercial clerk, and traffic who registered for the RRB NTPC 2025 exam can download the complete exam schedule from the official RRB websites. The exam will be conducted in two stages, with the first stage common for all The CBT-I will consist of 90 questions, including sections on Maths, General Awareness, and TO CHECK RRB NTPC 2025 EXAM DATESVisit the official RRB on the 'RRB NTPC 2025 exam date' the PDF with your exam schedule and save it for will also be able to view their exam city and date details 10 days before the exam. For SC/ST candidates, a travel authority will be available to facilitate travel the full RRB NTPC exam schedule here:NTPC 05 24 Tent Exam Schd Eng by on ScribdAadhaar authentication will be mandatory at the exam centre for entry. Candidates must carry their Aadhaar card or a printed copy of the e-verified total, over 1.2 crore applications have been received for the RRB NTPC 2025 exam, with a significant number applying for both graduate and undergraduate updated by visiting the official RRB sites and ensure timely downloads of admit cards and travel authority to avoid last-minute hassle.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
RRB releases CBT-I schedule for NTPC 2025 graduate-level recruitment, check dates here
RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I Exam Dates: 5th–23rd June 2025 RRB NTPC exam dates 2025: The Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has officially released the tentative schedule for the Computer Based Test (CBT-I) for the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) graduate level posts under Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) 05/2024. As per the latest notification issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), the CBT-I for these posts is scheduled to be held from June 5, 2025 to June 23, 2025. This examination is a part of the recruitment process for various NTPC graduate-level positions such as commercial apprentice, traffic assistant, goods guard, senior commercial cum ticket clerk, and others. The CBT-I will be conducted over a span of 15 days, and candidates are advised to regularly check the official websites of RRBs for updates regarding the examination process. Exam city, date link and travel authority details The link for viewing the exam city and date, along with downloading the travel authority for SC/ST candidates, will be made available 10 days prior to the actual examination date. This link will be hosted exclusively on the official websites of all RRBs. Candidates belonging to SC/ST categories are encouraged to make use of this facility for smoother travel arrangements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo Downloading of e-call letters will commence 4 days before the respective exam date as indicated in the exam city and date intimation link. Applicants are advised to check this link well in advance and ensure timely download of their admit cards to avoid last-minute issues. Aadhaar authentication mandatory for exam entry In a significant move aimed at strengthening the verification process, Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication will be conducted at the exam centres before allowing candidates to enter the examination hall. Therefore, all candidates must carry their original Aadhaar card or a printed copy of an e-verified Aadhaar for identity verification purposes. Even candidates who have already completed Aadhaar verification during the application process are advised to ensure that their Aadhaar remains in an unlocked state in the UIDAI system before the exam day. This will help avoid delays and ensure a smooth verification and registration process at the examination venue. RRB CEN 05/2024 CBT-I Exam Schedule Notification To further streamline the entry process, candidates who have not yet completed Aadhaar verification are advised to do so by logging in with their credentials at the official website: Important guidelines and cautionary advice Candidates must rely solely on the official RRB websites for authentic information regarding the recruitment process. They should not be misled by information from unauthorised or unofficial sources. The RRBs have strictly warned candidates to beware of touts who falsely promise job appointments in exchange for illegal gratification. It is reiterated that the entire selection process is transparent and based solely on merit, determined through the CBT. Candidates are urged to prepare sincerely and stay updated only through official channels. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
