High-voltage electrostatic therapy for chronic sleep disorder in aged patients

Objective To compare the short-term effects of high-voltage electrostatic therapy(HVET) and cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) on sleep disorder in aged patients. Methods Seventy patients with sleep disorders at the age of 66-92 years(mean 81.0±7.4 years) were randomly divided into HVET group(n=35) and CBT group(n=35).Patients in HVET group were treated with a high-voltage electrostatic therapeutic field(30kV,25-30min/time,once a day,10-15times/course) and those in CBT group were treated with CBT for 3 weeks.Their effects on sleep disorder were assessed according to the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) before and after treatment. Results The total PSQI score and other PSQI scores were lower in HVET group after treatment than before treatment(P<0.01).The total PSQI score was lower,the subjective sleep quality was better,the sleep latency and sleep time were shorter in CBT group after treatment than before treatment(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was observed in sleep efficiency,sleep disturbance,sleep medications and daytime dysfunction(P>0.05)before and after treatment between the two groups.The total PSQI score and other PSQI scores except for sleep latency were higher in HVET group than in CBT group(P<0.05). Conclusion HVET can improve the sleep quality of aged people and its short-term effect is better than that of CBT.