Behavioral Sleep Medicine[edit | edit source]

Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM) is a subfield of sleep medicine that investigates and addresses sleep-related disorders by focusing on the psychological, physiological, behavioral, cognitive, social, and cultural factors that influence sleep and are influenced by it. BSM is an evidence-based behavioral health discipline that primarily employs non-pharmacological treatments, meaning treatments that do not involve medications. BSM interventions are typically problem-focused and tailored to specific sleep complaints, and they can be integrated with other medical or mental health treatments, such as sleep apnea treatment or psychotherapy for mood disorders.

Overview[edit | edit source]

BSM integrates knowledge from various disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, neurology, and behavioral sciences, to better understand and treat sleep disorders. The field aims to improve sleep quality and quantity, enhance daytime functioning, and address co-occurring medical or mental health issues.

Common Sleep Disorders Addressed in BSM[edit | edit source]

BSM is applicable to a wide range of sleep disorders, including:

BSM Interventions[edit | edit source]

BSM interventions are diverse and typically include the following approaches:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)[edit | edit source]

CBT-I is an evidence-based treatment for insomnia that targets the thoughts, behaviors, and habits contributing to sleep problems. Components of CBT-I may include:

Sleep hygiene education
Stimulus control therapy
Sleep restriction therapy
Cognitive therapy
Relaxation training
Biofeedback

Chronotherapy[edit | edit source]

Chronotherapy focuses on adjusting and stabilizing circadian rhythms, which can be particularly helpful for individuals with circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Techniques may include:

Light therapy
Dark therapy
Phase shifting
Regularizing sleep-wake schedules

Behavioral Treatment for Sleep Apnea[edit | edit source]

While medical treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are commonly used for sleep apnea, BSM can complement these treatments by addressing factors that contribute to sleep apnea, such as:

Weight management
Sleep positioning
Relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and improve CPAP adherence

Pediatric Sleep Interventions[edit | edit source]

BSM can also address sleep disorders and sleep problems in children, such as bedtime resistance, night wakings, and sleep onset association disorder. Interventions may include:

Parent training
Graduated extinction
Positive routines
Scheduled awakenings
Sleep education

Training and Certification[edit | edit source]

To become a BSM specialist, practitioners typically complete a formal education in a relevant discipline, such as psychology, psychiatry, or sleep medicine, followed by specialized training and clinical experience in BSM. Certification is available through organizations like the American Board of Sleep Medicine and the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

See also[edit | edit source]

Summary[edit | edit source]

Behavioral sleep medicine (BSM) is a field within sleep medicine that encompasses scientific inquiry and clinical treatment of sleep-related disorders, with a focus on the psychological, physiological, behavioral, cognitive, social, and cultural factors that affect sleep, as well as the impact of sleep on those factors. The clinical practice of BSM is an evidence-based behavioral health discipline that uses primarily non-pharmacological treatments (that is, treatments that do not involve medications). BSM interventions are typically problem-focused and oriented towards specific sleep complaints, but can be integrated with other medical or mental health treatments (such as medical treatment of sleep apnea, psychotherapy for mood disorders).

Behavioral sleep medicine Resources
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