Management of Insomnia in Breast Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of Brief Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia (BBT-I) in the treatment of insomnia in humans. Insomnia is an extraordinarily common problem for cancer patients that is often associated with diminished social and vocational functioning and QOL. It is also likely that insomnia exacerbates other cancer-related symptoms (eg, fatigue, nausea, depressive mood, pain and/or reduced pain tolerance) and thus gives rise to the possibility of additive or multiplicative interactions. It is possible that untreated insomnia in the context of cancer therapy may lead to chronic forms of insomnia in cancer survivors which, in turn, independently confers risk for increased psychiatric and medical morbidity. Thus, insomnia, by itself, is a significant problem that requires better understanding in order that its high prevalence can be reduced. Developing interventions that might prevent onset of insomnia in breast cancer patients is vital.