Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia: A Promising Treatment for Insomnia, Pain, and Depression in Patients With IBD.

Over 75% of people with active inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) report sleep disturbances, which heighten risk for IBD relapse and flares. Despite mounting evidence for sleep disturbances in IBD, discussion of treatment is severely limited. The most common sleep disturbance, insomnia, occurs in over 50% of adults with chronic health conditions. Herein we describe the gold standard treatment for insomnia, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Although yet to be studied in IBD, CBT-I reduces a number of IBD-related comorbidities, including chronic pain, depression, and systemic inflammation. We describe treatment with CBT-I, the impact of CBT-I on these comorbidities, and recommendations for providers.