Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Music therapy for insomnia

This article discusses a new, non-drug approach to treating insomnia. I don't know much about it, although I have known about it for a few years. I don't understand exactly how it works, either. Apparently, researchers attach electrodes to the scalp of insomnia patients. The electrodes record brain wave activity. A sophisticated software program analyzes the mathematics behind the brain waves and then creates music based on that pattern. The music is then piped in through headphones to the patient. The study showed a significant decrease in insomnia symptoms as reported by study subjects. No sleep studies were done to confirm the effects, and patients knew if they were getting the treatment - two aspects that affect the results. If this new type of therapy proves to be beneficial in larger, controlled, and blinded studies, it may be a good non-drug approach. I am not sure how it would be delivered though - only through major medical centers or through a sleep clinic?

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