Sleepless people sometimes use the Internet to get through the night. Now a small study shows promising results for insomniacs with nine weeks of Internet-based therapy. No human therapist is involved. The Internet software gives advice, even specific bedtimes, based on users' sleep diaries. Patients learn better sleep habits -- like avoiding daytime naps -- through stories, quizzes and games.
Sleepless people sometimes use the Internet to get through the night. Now a small study shows promising results for insomniacs with nine weeks of Internet-based therapy. No human therapist is involved. The Internet software gives advice, even specific bedtimes, based on users' sleep diaries. Patients learn better sleep habits -- like avoiding daytime naps -- through stories, quizzes and games. "This is a very interactive, tailored, personalized program," said study coauthor Frances Thorndike of the University of Virginia Health System.