Behavioral Treatments for Sleep Disorders

In general, Dr. Perlis’s research pertains to insomnia and Behavioral Sleep Medicine. His specific research interests include: Behavior, cognitive, and physiologic factors in Acute and Chronic insomnia, Cortical arousal and conditioned CNS activation as a primary perpetuator of insomnia;  Sensory and information processing and long term memory formation as key features of Insomnia Disorder as a hybrid state between wake and sleep;  Sleep homeostasis effects on the frequency and severity of insomnia (and the patterning of insomnia over time); Insomnia as morbid risk factor for new onset and recurrent depression; The anti-depressant effects of CBT-I; The potential of conditioning and partial reinforcement with placebos (Behavioral; Pharmacotherapeutics) as a means to change how medical maintenance therapy is conducted; The relative efficacy of behavioral and pharmacologic treatments of insomnia.

• Part I. BSM Treatment Protocols for Insomia1. Sleep Restriction Therapy2. Stimulus Control Therapy3. Sleep Hygiene4. Relaxation for Insomnia5. Sleep Compression6. Paradoxical Intention Therapy7. Behavioral Experiments8. Intervention to Reduce Unhelpful Beliefs about Sleep9. Intervention to Reduce Misperception10. Intervention to Reduce Use of Safety Behaviors11. Cognitive Therapy for Dysfunctional Beliefs about Sleep and Insomnia12. Cognitive Restructuring: Cognitive Therapy for Catastrophic Sleep Beliefs13. Intensive Sleep Retraining: Conditioning Treatment for Primary Insomnia14. Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia15. Brief Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia16. Using Bright Light and Melatonin to Reduce Jet Lag17. Using Bright Light and Melatonin to Adjust to Night WorkPart II. BSM Protocols for Adherence and Treatment of Intrinsic Sleep Disorders18. Motivational Enhancement Therapy19. Exposure Therapy for Claustrophobic Reactions to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure20. Sleep Apnea Self-Management Program21. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Increase Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway22. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Increase Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway23. The Avoidance of the Supine Posture during Sleep for Patients with Supine-related Sleep Apnea24. Scheduled Sleep Periods as an Adjuvant Treatment for NarcolepsyPart III. BSM Protocols for Pediatric Sleep Disorders25. Brief Parent Consultation to Prevent Infant/Toddler Sleep Disturbance26. Unmodified Extinction for Childhood Sleep Disturbance27. Graduated Extinction: Behavioral Treatment for Bedtime Problems and Night Wakings in Young Children28. Extinction with Parental Presence29. Bedtime Fading with Response Cost for Children with Multiple Sleep Problems30. The Bedtime Pass31. The Excuse-Me Drill: A Behavioral protocol to Promote Independent Sleep Initiation Skills and Reduce Bedtime Problems in Young Children32. Day Correction of Pediatric Bedtime Problems33. Graduated Exposure Games to Reduce Children’s Fear of the Dark34. Scheduled Awakenings: A Behavioral Protocol for Treating Sleepwalking and Sleep Terrors in Children35. Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for Adolescents36. Moisture Alarm Therapy for Primary Nocturnal Enuresis37. Promoting Positive Airway Pressure Adherence in Children Using Escape Extinction within a Multi-Component Behavior Therapy Approach38. Using Motivational Interviewing to Facilitate Healthier Sleep-Related Behaviors in Adolescents