Mobile apps and Internet programs are expanding the availability of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the first-line treatment for this disorder, according to speakers at a symposium on the topic at the joint annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society in Seattle in June.
Several self-help mobile sleep apps on the market offer personalized CBT-I feedback to users.
One such app is SleepRate, which uses a heart rate sensor worn on an elastic band around the chest in sleep to transmit data wirelessly to the user’s phone. The app analyzes heart rate variability to determine when the user falls asleep, awakens, and experiences various sleep stages. It also detects environmental noises that disrupt sleep. Users complete a daily sleep diary on their phone and receive CBT-I recommendations based on their initial assessment period and feedback on their sleep.
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