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Those who have suffered from insomnia know the sinking feeling of watching the clock tick. Now
a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that lying in bed awake may actually contribute
to the problem of sleeplessness.
The study of 79 adults (average age 72) with insomnia aimed to determine whether brief behavioral
interventions for insomnia would help. Traditional behavioral therapy (疗法) requires at least half a dozen
hour-long sessions with a therapist-a costly commitment many patients either can't make or don't have
access to. Other options include sleep-aiding medications or supplements. In the current study, the 39
participants in the behavioral therapy group received a 45-to 60-minute instructing session, plus a 30-minute
follow-up session and two 20-minute phone calls.
Doctors offered the following behavioral interventions for improving sleep: reduce time in bed; get up
at the same time every day, regardless of sleep duration; don't go to bed unless sleepy; and don't stay in bed
unless asleep.
The other 40 participants in the study were given printed educational materials about insomnia, which
included the same instructions given to the intervention group, but without the individualized sessions with
a therapist. Two weeks later, the latter group also got a 10-minute follow-up phone call.
At the end of four weeks, the behavioral treatment group was significantly more likely to show
improvements in sleep than the printed-materials group. By that time, 55% of those who received behavioral
treatment no longer met the criteria for insomnia, compared with 13% of the group that got educational
brochures.
The good news comes at the same time as a report on the health effects of insomnia from the U.K.'s
Mental Health Foundation. The report, Sleep Matters, suggests a link between insomnia and poor relationships,
low energy levels and an inability to concentrate. Poor sleep has already been linked to depression, immune
deficiency and heart disease.
1. What is the meaning of the underlined word "insomnia"?
A. sleeplessness
B. depression
C. heart disease
D. immune deficiency
2. What is the disadvantage of traditional behavioral therapy?
A. It can't help.
B. It costs a lot of money.
C. It requires sessions with a therapist.
D. It includes sleep-aiding medications.
3. How to improve sleep according to the doctor?
A. Lying in bed awake.
B. Get up early every day.
C. Don't go to bed late at night.
D. Don't stay in bed if you are not asleep.
4. We can learn from the text that insomnia may cause the following results except _____.
A. depression
B. concentration
C. immune deficiency
D. heart disease
5. What can we infer from the study?
A. The intervention group was not given the printed materials.
B. The latter group of the study was not given follow-up phone calls.
C. The behavioral treatment group was less likely to show improvements.
D. The instructing session that the intervention group received is most effective.
