Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
DESCRIPTION
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an empirically validated approach to cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia.
- The purpose of CBT-I is to provide the patient with a set of skills that can be used to promote sleep.
- These skills focus on modifying maladaptive behaviors, thoughts, and physiological responses that maintain and/or exacerbate insomnia.
- The approach to CBT-I is present-focused and problem-specific.
- CBT sessions are structured and goal oriented.
- The course is time-limited (typically one-hour session per week for 8 weeks).
- The CBT-I therapist is typically trained in behavioral sleep medicine.
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Last updated: October 3, 2025
Citation
Felder, William, et al. "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)." Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2025. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787384/all/Cognitive_Behavioral_Therapy_for_Insomnia__CBT_I_.
Felder W, Cataldi M, Bailey A, Speed T. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787384/all/Cognitive_Behavioral_Therapy_for_Insomnia__CBT_I_. Accessed June 18, 2026.
Felder, W., Cataldi, M., Bailey, A., & Speed, T. (2025). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). In Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787384/all/Cognitive_Behavioral_Therapy_for_Insomnia__CBT_I_
Felder W, Cataldi M, Bailey A, Speed T. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. [cited 2026 June 18]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787384/all/Cognitive_Behavioral_Therapy_for_Insomnia__CBT_I_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
ID - 787384
A1 - Felder,William,M.D.
AU - Cataldi,Mariel,M.D.
AU - Bailey,Allison,M.D.
AU - Speed,Traci,M.D., Ph.D.
Y1 - 2025/10/03/
BT - Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787384/all/Cognitive_Behavioral_Therapy_for_Insomnia__CBT_I_
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
