Objective   To investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia(CBT-I)in esophageal cancer patients with insomnia.

  Methods   A total of 66 esophageal cancer patients with insomnia were randomly divided into CBT-I treatmentgroup and drug (zolpidem) treatment group, and received 6 weeks of treatment. The changes of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) score, sleep time (SOL), actual sleep time (AST), sleep efficiency (SE) were observed at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week of treatment and the 2nd and 4th week after treatment.

  Results   Drug group had improved PSQI, HAMA, HAMD, SOL, AST, SE at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week of treatment, the curative effect reached the peak in the 2nd week, and then decreased gradually. There was no significant difference in curative effect at the 2nd and 4th week after treatment compared to before treatment. HAMA and SOL showed significant difference in CBT-I group at the 2nd week of treatment compared to before treatment. PSQI, HAMA, HAMD, SOL, AST and SE showed significant difference at the 4th and 6th week of treatment compared to before treatment. The curative effect reached the peak at the 6th week of treatment. There was no significant difference in the curative effect at the 6th week of treatment compared to the 2nd and 4th week of treatment. There were significant differences in PSQI, HAMA, HAMD, SOL, AST and SE in the two groups at the 6th week of treatment, the 2nd and 4th week after treatment (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion   Hypnotic drugs are effective in the treatment of esophageal cancer complicated with insomnia, but has shorter curative effect, while CBT-I is on the contrary, and the treatment efficacy lasts after the therapy completion.