[Sleep in the elderly. Effects of a behavior therapeutic sleeping course]

Insomnia is a frequently occurring complaint. The role of the educational approach in the behavioral treatment of insomnia is of increasing importance. In this article the results of an in 1987-1988 televised behaviour-therapeutic course, 'Sleeping can be learned', are presented. Special attention is given to the results of older subjects. Data were collected by means of a sleep diary in a precourse, postcourse and a follow-up measurement. In addition a number of questionnaires were used to collect information on personality factors and on physical and psychological complaints. The self-estimated duration of sleep of the group over sixty years of age was significantly less when compared with the younger group. The results of the course were encouraging. Sleep latency decreased on the average with more than 25 minutes per night and the duration of sleep increased with nearly 40 minutes per night. The use of sleep-medication decreased. These changes did not differ between the group over 60 years old and the younger group. No support was found for the idea that insomnia in the elderly is caused by an increasing number of problems. A factor that could influence the prevalence of insomnia in the elderly can be the more irrational beliefs on sleep and sleep disorders the older group of subjects appeared to have. Strategies directed at these cognitions should therefore be a part of the treatment of insomnia.