CBT-I Sleep Restriction & Stimulus Control Therapy 2

Question 1

What is the primary theoretical basis of stimulus control therapy for insomnia?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning: the bed has become a conditioned stimulus for wakefulness and arousal

Answer

Stimulus control therapy is grounded in classical conditioning—through repeated pairing with wakefulness and arousal, the bed and bedroom have become conditioned cues for alertness rather than sleep.

Question 2

Which of the following is a core instruction of stimulus control therapy?

Accepted Answer

Go to bed only when genuinely sleepy, not simply because it is your usual bedtime

Answer

Going to bed only when sleepy ensures the sleep environment is paired with sleep onset rather than prolonged wakefulness, directly targeting the conditioned arousal pattern.

Question 3

According to stimulus control therapy, what should a patient do if they are unable to fall asleep or return to sleep within approximately 15-20 minutes?

Accepted Answer

Get out of bed and go to another room, engaging in quiet activity until sleepy

Answer

Leaving the bed and bedroom when unable to sleep prevents further pairing of the sleep environment with wakefulness, gradually extinguishing the conditioned arousal response.

Question 4

Why does stimulus control therapy restrict the use of the bed to sleep and sex only?

Accepted Answer

To strengthen the conditioned association between the bed and the sleepy state

Answer

Restricting bed use to sleep (and sex) ensures that the bed functions as a strong, reliable conditioned stimulus for sleepiness rather than for wakefulness or other arousal states.

Question 5

Which of the following patient behaviors is most problematic from a stimulus control perspective?

Accepted Answer

Watching television in bed for 90 minutes before attempting to fall asleep

Answer

Watching television in bed directly pairs the sleep environment with an alerting, stimulating activity, reinforcing the conditioned association between bed and wakefulness.

(CBT-I) CBT Insomnia Certification Practice Test

(CBT-I) CBT Insomnia Certification Practice Test

CBT-I Sleep Restriction & Stimulus Control Therapy 2