A common concern for many of my patients at some point in their lives is the inability to sleep. Indeed, this is a common problem in our society with many remedies, medications and therapies portending to provide “the solution” to our sleep disorders.

What does the evidence say regarding the best approach to help those that have been having problems falling or staying asleep?

A Canadian study, published in the May 20 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that the short-term addition of particular sleep medication coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy, helped more people overcome persistent insomnia.

• Dr. Charles Morin,  Professor of Psychology and Director of the Sleep Research Center at the Université Laval and holds a Canada Research Chair on Sleep Disorders and is past President of the Canadian Sleep Society and study author.