Yongin Severance Hospital has started prescribing Somzz, the first digital therapeutics (DTx) device in Korea, for older adults with insomnia.

Somzz, approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in February last year, implements cognitive behavioral therapy, the optimum standard treatment for insomnia, into a mobile application.

Unlike traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, it is characterized by increased accessibility to treatment so that patients can participate in treatment anytime, anywhere.

"DTx devices are a safe alternative to reduce the incidence of accidents, such as cognitive impairment and the fall of older adults due to sleeping pills," said Professor Kim Woo-jung of the Department of Psychiatry at Yongin Severance Hospital. "To increase the utilization of the developed DTx by older adult patients, customized usage environments should be provided."

Somzz is available for prescription at Yongin Severance Hospital, Severance Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, and Wonju Severance Christian Hospital.

Patients with chronic insomnia of three months or more who meet the study criteria are eligible for prescription.