Cognitive-Behavioural and Hypnotic Treatment of Chronic Primary Insomnia Among the Elderly

Inclusion Criteria: * age 55 years or older * fulfilment of the DMS-IV criteria for insomnia, including difficulties initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, and/or early morning awakenings with no ability of return to sleep * duration of at least 3 months * complaints of impaired daytime functioning. Exclusion Criteria: * use of hypnotic medication the last 4 weeks before project start * use of antidepressive or antipsychotic medications * signs of dementia or other serious cognitive impairment defined by a score under 25 on the Mini-Mental State Examination * presence of a major depressive disorder or other severe mental disorder as identified by a clinical assessment based on The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) * presence of sleep apnea defined as (A/H index \> 15) or periodic limb movements during sleep (PLM index with arousal \> 15), * working nightshifts and unable or unwilling to discontinue this work pattern, * willingness or inability to stop taking sleep medication before start * having a serious somatic conditions preventing further participation