[The efficacy of sleep hygiene measures in the treatment of insomnia].
In order to compare the efficacy of sleep hygiene to the effect of a placebo and to a treatment with benzodiazepines in psychophysiologic insomnia. We performed a clinical assay in 150 patients from a primary care unit in Chihuahua, Chih. Patients were allocated in three groups according to a non-systematic random procedure. Patients from group I received an instructive booklet with 10 recommendations about sleep hygiene, group II received placebo, and group III benzodiazepines. Patients were interviewed three weeks after the maneuver was delivered. The effect of the maneuver was classified as success or failure. In Group I, the result was of 65% success vs 35% failure; in Group II. 50% success vs. 50% failure; and group III, 73% success vs. 23% failure (p = 0.06). In conclusion, all three types of treatment have similar efficacy in the management of insomnia. Sleep hygiene is effective and does not have risk of secondary effects. Thus, we recommend sleep hygiene as the therapy of first choice for insomnia.
Martínez-Manzano
C
C
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Medicina Familiar 33, Chihuahua.
Levario-Carrillo
M
M
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011603:Psychophysiology; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010919:Placebos; D001569:Benzodiazepines