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Sleep Restriction

Meaning

Sleep Restriction, in a clinical context, is a behavioral therapy technique primarily used in the treatment of insomnia, where the time a patient is allowed to spend in bed is intentionally limited to the actual amount of time they report sleeping. This is not about chronic sleep deprivation but a controlled intervention designed to increase sleep efficiency and consolidate fragmented sleep. The temporary restriction builds a mild sleep debt, which increases the homeostatic drive for sleep and strengthens the association between the bed and sleeping. This therapeutic approach helps to re-regulate the body’s natural sleep propensity.