The Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic is a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic dedicated to the behavioral treatment of sleep disorders and their consequences. Our expert staff consists of psychologists, physicians, and related health professionals who are experienced and knowledgeable in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep disorders.

We know that behavioral therapies for insomnia and many other sleep disorders produce longer lasting effects than sleeping pills. Therefore, we seek to identify the root causes of an individual’s sleep disorder and then implement behavioral and lifestyle changes to address these causes and bring relief. We work closely with the sleep medicine physicians at Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorder Center to provide our patients with the best integrative care possible.

Our Patients

Typically, patients first visit the clinic for one or more of the following reasons:

• they have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night (insomnia)
• they fall asleep and/or wake up too late or too early (circadian rhythm disorders)
• they are tired of taking sleeping pills and want to stop
• they need help and support adjusting to Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea
• they struggle with frequent and upsetting nightmares (nightmare disorder)
• they feel too sleepy during the day, despite an adequate amount of sleep at night (hypersomnia)
• they experience unwanted or dangerous behaviors during sleep (sleep walking, sleep eating, sleep terrors)
• they have difficulty sleeping due to a rotating work schedule (shift work disorder)

Services Offered

All patients of the Johns Hopkins Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program receive a thorough assessment, diagnosis, and therapy to address the presenting problem(s). During the assessment phase, you and your provider will work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that will identify the goals for treatment. Depending upon the presenting problem, treatment often consists of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of brief psychotherapy that has extensive scientific support as an effective way to help people with insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and difficulty adjusting to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea among other problems.

The National Institutes of Health recommend CBT as a first-line treatment for insomnia and other sleep disorders. The goals of CBT are to help you learn about the factors influencing your sleep and to make specific, lasting changes to improve your condition. As part of the treatment process, you will be asked to monitor your behavior and you and your therapist will set daily goals to help you improve your sleep experience. You will meet approximately once every 1 to 2 weeks for up to 50 minutes to work toward these goals. Significant improvement is often achieved in 2-6 sessions depending on the causes of your sleep disturbance.

Please note: We do not offer prescription medications to manage sleep problems, and we are not able to order sleep studies or CPAP supplies. For these services, patients must contact the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorder Center.

Fees and Insurances

The Department of Psychiatry participates in some, but not all insurance plans. Please call the clinic for more information. Even if the department does not participate in your particular insurance plan, most plans will cover some percentage of the fee.

How to Schedule an Appointment

For more information and to schedule an appointment call 410-550-3543, between 9:00AM and 4:00PM, Monday through Friday.

Location

Behavioral Medicine Clinic
5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Suite 100
Behavioral Biology Building, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Baltimore MD 21224

Phone: 410-550-3543
Fax: 667-208-5011

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Before Your First Visit

Before your initial evaluation, we will send you several brief questionnaires about your health history and sleep and related symptoms. You should complete these questionnaires prior to your appointment, so that you and your treatment provider can review the information together. Your responses will help guide the personalized treatment plan that you and your provider develop. If you already had a sleep study at another hospital, please fax us a copy of the report before your visit at 667-208-5011.

What to Expect During Your First Visit

Your first visit will consist of an assessment session and will last approximately one hour. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time in order to complete your clinic registration. Once your registration is complete, you will meet with a clinic therapist, who will begin your evaluation.

For Referring Providers

• Providers with access to JH: Refer through Epic by entering REF10100 into the order field.
• Providers outside of JH: Download referral form, complete, and fax to 667-208-5011.
• For questions about the referral process please call 410-550-3543.