Can CBT-I Help Older Veterans with Insomnia and Chronic Pain Sleep Better?
As we age, sleep can become more elusive—especially for those dealing with chronic conditions. For many older veterans, the combination of chronic pain and insomnia can lead to nights spent awake and mornings feeling anything but refreshed.
A recent study offers hope, showing that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) could be a highly effective solution for older adults facing both pain and sleeplessness.
What Is CBT-I, and Why Is It Effective for Insomnia?
CBT-I is a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy designed specifically to treat insomnia. Through a series of structured sessions, CBT-I works by:
Addressing Sleep-Disrupting Behaviors: Techniques like stimulus control and sleep restriction help improve the association between bed and sleep.
Challenging Negative Thoughts About Sleep: Reframing unhelpful beliefs about sleep can lower nighttime anxiety, making it easier to drift off.
Improving Sleep Hygiene: Setting a regular bedtime and minimizing disruptive activities before sleep are key to a healthy sleep environment.
While CBT-I has long been known to improve sleep outcomes, this study explored its effectiveness in a unique group: older veterans who also suffer from chronic pain. For those experiencing pain, sleep can be particularly challenging, but the study results were promising.
CBT-I Shows Benefits for Older Veterans with Pain
The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, investigated the effects of CBT-I on older adult veterans with insomnia, many of whom also reported high levels of chronic pain. Here’s what the researchers found:
Significant Improvement in Sleep Quality: CBT-I significantly reduced insomnia severity and improved overall sleep quality, even in those experiencing high pain levels.
No Barriers from Pain: Contrary to concerns, chronic pain did not limit CBT-I’s effectiveness. Participants with higher pain levels reported even greater improvements in their insomnia symptoms.
Durable Benefits: Pain fluctuated over time for participants, but sleep improvements persisted regardless of these pain changes, highlighting CBT-I’s potential to provide lasting relief from insomnia.
Why This Matters
For older adults, chronic pain and insomnia are common but difficult to manage together. Many people hesitate to seek insomnia treatment when they’re dealing with pain, fearing that the two conditions are too intertwined to address separately. This study’s findings challenge that assumption, showing that CBT-I is not only effective but perhaps even more beneficial for those with chronic pain.
Takeaway: A Promising Path to Restful Nights
For older veterans (and perhaps older adults in general) grappling with insomnia and pain, CBT-I offers a non-drug solution with lasting benefits. Pain doesn’t have to stand in the way of better sleep. As more studies reinforce the effectiveness of CBT-I, it’s becoming clear that this structured approach could be a real game-changer for treating insomnia—regardless of age or pain level.
If you’re struggling with both pain and sleeplessness, CBT-I might be the approach you’ve been waiting for to reclaim your nights and improve your mornings.
Reference: Erickson A, Conley S, Smith TJ, et al. The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on sleep outcomes in the context of pain among older adult veterans. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024;72(3). doi:10.1111/jgs.11987