Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) Providers: An Underutilized Resource

Barry G Fields, Sharon Schutte-Rodin, Megin Myers and Michael L. Perlis

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective treatment for chronic insomnia, but it remains underutilized. Lack of appropriately-trained CBT-I providers is a major reason. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) may, in addition to psychologists, be uniquely positioned to fill this role, based not only on their professional training but also given a handful of studies showing these individuals’ care outcomes meet or exceed standard outcomes. Questions as to how to attract NPs to the field, credential them, and incorporate them into established practices remain unanswered.