Therapeutic Approaches to Insomnia and Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

The prevalence of sleep disorders in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) is 3–5 times higher compared to the general population. Insomnia Disorder, defined as difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep or waking up too early, can lead to significant fatigue, the most common and disabling symptom of MS. In addition, fatigue and insomnia in patients with MS also can overlap with and exacerbate other psychological and physical symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been shown as an effective treatment for chronic insomnia and burgeoning research has demonstrated the effectiveness of this treatment for insomnia in individuals with a variety of comorbid medical conditions including MS. The purpose of the current review will explore the literature surrounding the prevalence and impact of sleep disorders and fatigue in MS. Additionally, this review will address practical ways to help individuals with MS manage fatigue as well as how to modify typical standard behavioral treatments for insomnia to take into account special considerations for individuals with MS based on the level of disability and other comorbid issues that impact sleep.