NCJ Number
48742
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 117-130
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
TWO METHODS OF TREATING SERIOUS INSOMNIA EXPERIENCED BY INMATES ARE TESTED AND COMPARED.
Abstract
TWENTY-FOUR FEDERAL PENITENTIARY INMATES REPORTING SERIOUS SLEEP PROBLEMS WERE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THREE GROUPS: RELAXATION TRAINING; RELAXATION TRAINING PLUS STIMULUS CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS; OR DELAYED TREATMENT CONTROL. SUBJECTS IN THE FIRST GROUP WERE TAUGHT TO RELEASE TENSION FROM MUSCLES THROUGH A SERIES OF EXERCISES. SUBJECTS IN THE SECOND GROUP RECEIVED RELAXATION TRAINING AND IN ADDITION WERE INSTRUCTED TO LIE ON THEIR BEDS ONLY WHEN THEY INTENDED TO GO TO SLEEP AND ONLY WHEN THEY FELT SLEEPY, AND TO GET UP AND DO SOMETHING ELSE WHENEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO FALL ASLEEP. CONTROL SUBJECTS RECEIVED NO TREATMENT DURING THE STUDY PERIODS. NEITHER TREATMENT REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED BY INMATES TO FALL ASLEEP. HOWEVER, INMATES WHO RECEIVED BOTH RELAXATION TRAINING AND STIMULUS CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY AWOKE DURING THE NIGHT, WHEREAS GROUPS RECEIVING RELAXATION TRAINING ALONE OR NO TRAINING DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE FREQUENCY OF AWAKENINGS. SUBJECTS IN BOTH TREATMENT GROUPS REPORTED SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN FEELINGS OF TENSION, NERVOUSNESS, AND WORRY. AN 8-WEEK FOLLOWUP INDICATED THAT THE TREATMENT EFFECTS WERE NOT MAINTAINED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.(LKM)