The Effect of Family History on Insomnia During Sobriety in Alcoholics

The primary goals of this pilot study are the following:

a) to assess for the difference in improvement insomnia, after 8 weeks of treatment with recommended CBTi, in Veterans with alcohol dependence during early recovery,

The secondary goals include the following:

• to assess for any change in the alcohol consumption indices between the groups after 8 weeks of CBTi,
• to assess for change in psychiatric symptoms of mood and anxiety across the groups,
• to assess for differences in insomnia in subjects, with and without a first degree family history of alcohol dependence,
• to evaluate for any change in impulsivity-related measure with insomnia treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Presence of insomnia currently
• DSM IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence within the past year
• Not in acute alcohol withdrawal and within a year of sobriety from alcoholism
• Patients with moderate-severe sleep apnea compliant on their PAP device
• Can speak, understand and print in English.
• Is capable of giving written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Dependence on psychoactive substance (excluding alcohol, nicotine and cannabis) in the past 12 months, or evidence of chronic opiate use.
• Unstable/serious psychiatric condition e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder.
• Unstable or serious medical/neurologic illness
• Severe cognitive impairment
• Untreated moderate - severe obstructive sleep apnea