Cultural variation in infant's sleeping arrangements

Morelli, G.A., Rogoff, B., Oppenheim, D., & Goldsmith, D. (1992). Cultural variation in infant's sleeping arrangements: Questions of Independence. Developmental Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 4, 604-613.

Cultural practices differentiate infant sleep arrangements. In the middle-class US population, a common goal is to have infants sleep in their own rooms as soon as possible, consonant with the culture's importance on independence. In the Mayan population, it is not uncommon for children to sleep with their parents or other siblings well on into childhood, reflecting their culture's value on interpersonal relations. Changes are not prescribed by the authors; instead, broader cultural perspective is offered for American readers.

CBT vs. Pharmacotherapy for Chronic Primary Insomnia

Sivertsen, B. et al. (June 2006). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs. Zopiclone for Treatment of Chronic Primary Insomnia in Older Adults. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol 295, No. 24, 2851-2858.

This study compared the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) against sleep medication (Lunesta) and placebo intervention for chronic insomnia in older adults. The results showed that CBT resulted in improved short-term and long-term outcomes compared with pharmacotherapy on 3 out of 4 measures. Interestingly, for most outcomes Lunesta did not differ significantly from placebo.