Sedative-hypnotics? Answer to sleep disorder?

Patients who are presented with sleep disorders are usually approached with sleep medicines. However, this can readily lead to a slippery slope of dependency and abuse. A much more fruitful approach is polysomnography or sleep study. The sleep environment is assessed prior to any intervention with medicines. Multiple sleep latency studies assess daytime drowsiness. Then, one can pursue relaxation, guided imagery, hypnosis–a far safer and long lasting approach. The patient is then placed in a position of self determination rather than passive dependence on medicines.