Behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment

[Status of Health Economics Research on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia]

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a first-line treatment for insomnia disorder. Herein, we reviewed the currently prevailing forms of application of CBT-I and the corresponding studies on their health economics, comparing them with medication treatment. At present, most of the findings suggest that CBT-I has long-lasting effects and can help reduce future medical costs, thus showing long-term economic advantages. At present, there are no relevant research reports on the economic benefits of CBT-I in China. This review could provide reference for relevant studies to be conducted in the future in China. In addition, it provides reference from an economic perspective for clinicians and patients and facilitates their decision-making concerning using CBT-I as a treatment option for insomnia in the future.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as an Adjunct or Alternative Treatment to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

Although cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective treatment of insomnia, difficulties exist with adherence to recommendations and premature discontinuation of treatment does occur. The current article aims to review existing research on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based interventions, demonstrate differences and similarities between ACT for insomnia and CBT-I, and describe treatment components and mechanisms of ACT that can be used to treat insomnia disorder.

Paradoxic Intention as an Adjunct Treatment to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

Paradoxic intention (PI) was one of the first psychological interventions for insomnia. Historically, PI has been incorporated in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or delivered as a sole intervention for insomnia. PI instructions have varied over the years, but a common denominator is the instruction to try to stay awake in bed for as long as possible. This article reviews and discuss treatment rationales and theoretic frameworks for PI, the current evidence base for PI, its clinical relevance, and considerations needed when PI is used as an adjunct treatment to CBT-I, or as a second-line intervention for insomnia.

Patients with IBD Want to Talk About Sleep and Treatments for Insomnia with Their Gastroenterologist

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Poor sleep may be prospectively associated with worse disease course in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic insomnia is the most common cause of poor sleep complaints in IBD and is theorized to be maintained by dysfunctional thoughts and behavioral patterns. However, data characterizing patterns specific to insomnia in IBD are lacking. Understanding the nuances of insomnia and patients' preferences for treatment is critical for addressing this significant comorbidity in IBD.

METHODS

We conducted an anonymous, mixed-method online survey of people with IBD and asked questions about sleep patterns, thoughts, and behaviors related to sleep, treatment preferences, and barriers to treatment.

RESULTS

312 participants (60.9% Crohn's, 66.3% women, mean age of 48.62 years) were included in this study. Participants with insomnia were significantly more concerned about the consequences of sleep loss, felt more helpless about their sleep, and were more likely to engage in behaviors known to perpetuate insomnia (e.g., spending time in bed in pain; ps ≤ 0.001) than those without insomnia. 70.3% of participants were interested in discussing sleep as part of IBD care, 63.5% were interested in receiving sleep recommendations from their gastroenterologist, and 84.6% of those with insomnia were interested in participating in sleep treatments.

CONCLUSION

Participants with IBD and insomnia are interested in treatment and reported patterns that can be targeted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, as opposed to traditional sleep hygiene guidelines. Additionally, people with insomnia engaged in several sleep-interfering behaviors related to pain. Clinical trials that target insomnia in people with IBD should include pain management in the intervention.

Consumer sleep technology for the screening of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring: current status and a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy

There are concerns about the validation and accuracy of currently available consumer sleep technology for sleep-disordered breathing. The present report provides a background review of existing consumer sleep technologies and discloses the methods and procedures for a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy of these devices and apps for the detection of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring in comparison with polysomnography. The search will be performed in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library). Studies will be selected in two steps, first by an analysis of abstracts followed by full-text analysis, and two independent reviewers will perform both phases. Primary outcomes include apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory disturbance index, respiratory event index, oxygen desaturation index, and snoring duration for both index and reference tests, as well as the number of true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives for each threshold, as well as for epoch-by-epoch and event-by-event results, which will be considered for the calculation of surrogate measures (including sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy). Diagnostic test accuracy meta-analyses will be performed using the Chu and Cole bivariate binomial model. Mean difference meta-analysis will be performed for continuous outcomes using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Analyses will be performed independently for each outcome. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will evaluate the effects of the types (wearables, nearables, bed sensors, smartphone applications), technologies (e.g., oximeter, microphone, arterial tonometry, accelerometer), the role of manufacturers, and the representativeness of the samples.

Comparative efficacy of onsite, digital, and other settings for cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Given the limited availability and accessibility of onsite cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), other CBT-I settings, such as internet-delivered CBT-I (iCBT-I), have been proposed. The primary aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of available CBT-I settings on insomnia severity. A systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis of available CBT-I settings was performed. PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, PubMed, and CINAHL were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating any CBT-I settings in adults with insomnia disorder. The systematic literature search (3851 references) resulted in 52 RCTs. For the primary outcome insomnia severity, all examined CBT-I settings except smartphone-delivered CBT-I yielded significant effects when compared to WL. Large standardized mean differences were found for individual onsite CBT-I (- 1.27;95%CI - 1.70, - 0.84), group-delivered CBT-I (- 1.00;95%CI - 1.42. - 0.59), telehealth (- 1.28;95%CI - 2.06, - 0.50), and guided bibliotherapy (- 0.99;95%CI - 1.67, - 0.32). Both guided iCBT-I (- 0.71;95%CI - 1.18, - 0.24) and unguided iCBT-I (- 0.78;95%CI - 1.18, - 0.38) yielded medium effect sizes. The results underline that health care systems should intensify their efforts to provide synchronously-delivered CBT-I (individual onsite, group-delivered, and telehealth), and particularly individual onsite CBT-I, given its solid evidence base. Medium to large effect sizes for iCBT-I and guided bibliotherapy indicate that self-help settings may be a viable alternative when synchronously-delivered CBT-I is not available.

Association Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Incident Purchase of Hypnotic Drugs in Adults: The HUNT Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with first purchase of a prescribed hypnotic drug in the adult population.

METHODS

A total of 34,357 adult participants (53.9% women) with a mean age of 51.5 years (SD 15.6 years) from the third Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) of 2006 to 2008 were observed until January 1, 2018. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated from a validated nonexercise algorithm. Data on first hypnotics prescription were obtained through linkage to the National Norwegian Prescription Database. Cox regression with 95% CIs was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

After 304,899 person-years of follow-up, 5791 participants had their first registered purchase of prescribed hypnotics, corresponding to an incidence rate of 1.90 per 100 person-years. Each 1-metabolic equivalent of task increase in CRF was significantly associated with 5% (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.99; P=.02) and 4% (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.00; P=.046) risk reduction for incident use of hypnotics in men and women, respectively. When CRF was categorized into tertiles with lowest CRF as the reference group, reduced risk was 13% (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.96; P=.006) and 15% (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.95; P=.003) for men in the intermediate and highest CRF category, respectively. In women with highest CRF, the reduced risk was 5% (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.03; P=.22).

CONCLUSION

Cardiorespiratory fitness in adulthood is associated with incident purchase of prescription medication commonly used for sleep problems. These findings suggest that fitness should be considered a target for preventing sleep problems in adults.

A comparison of sleep restriction and sleep compression on objective measures of sleep: A sub-sample from a large randomised controlled trial

Sleep restriction therapy is a central component of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, but can lead to excessive sleepiness, which may impede treatment adherence. Sleep compression therapy has been suggested as a possibly gentler alternative. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sleep restriction therapy and sleep compression therapy on objective measures of sleep, with a focus on magnitude and timing of effects. From a larger study of participants with insomnia, a sub-sample of 36 underwent polysomnographic recordings, before being randomised to either sleep restriction (n = 19) or sleep compression (n = 17) and receiving online treatment for 10 weeks. Assessments with polysomnography were also carried out after 2, 5, and 10 weeks of treatment. Data were analysed with multilevel linear mixed effect modelling. As per treatment instructions, participants in sleep restriction initially spent shorter time in bed compared with sleep compression. Participants in sleep restriction also showed an initial decrease of total sleep time, which was not seen in the sleep compression group. Both treatments led to improvements in sleep continuity variables, with a tendency for the improvements to come earlier during treatment in sleep restriction. No substantial differences were found between the two treatments 10 weeks after the treatment start. The results indicate that homeostatic sleep pressure may not be as important as a mechanism in sleep compression therapy as in sleep restriction therapy, and an investigation of other mechanisms is needed. In conclusion, the treatments led to similar changes in objective sleep at a somewhat different pace, and possibly through different mechanisms.

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep in chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide and adults with chronic low back pain (≥12weeks) commonly experience sleep impairments (e.g., insomnia, sleep disturbance). This study examined the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep in adults with chronic low back pain. Six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CENTRAL) were searched from inception to 2 June 2021 for randomised controlled trials. Pairwise random-effect meta-analysis estimated standardised mean difference (Hedges' g) at end-of-intervention follow-up. Nineteen studies (participants: 1348) were included. When compared to control, non-pharmacological interventions improved sleep (g [95%CI]: -0.33 [-0.56, -0.11], p = 0.004, small effect, I² = 59.3%; n = 879; studies: n = 13; GRADE: low). This small improvement in sleep was associated with a moderate reduction in pain intensity (-0.69 [-1.00, -0.38], p < 0.001, I² = 75.3%; n = 812; studies: n = 12; GRADE: very low) and no changes in back-related disability (-0.50 [-1.13, 0.14], p = 0.129, I² = 91.4%; n = 517; studies: n = 6; GRADE: low). Notably, all eligible studies reported interventions primarily aimed to reduce pain, although our search criteria were not limited to pain interventions. Key limitations were data paucity and high risk of bias. Future research should investigate sleep-based interventions (i.e., those purposely designed to improve sleep) using subjective and objective measures across a range of sleep domains (CRD42021275227).

Adherence to CPAP Treatment: Can Mindfulness Play a Role?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is considered a chronic disease that requires long-term multidisciplinary management for effective treatment. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is still considered the gold standard of therapy. However, CPAP effectiveness is limited due to poor patients' adherence, as almost 50% of patients discontinue treatment after a year. Several interventions have been used in order to increase CPAP adherence. Mindfulness-based therapies have been applied in other sleep disorders such as insomnia but little evidence exists for their application on OSA patients. This review aims to focus on the current data on whether mindfulness interventions may be used in order to increase CPAP adherence and improve the sleep quality of OSA patients. Even though controlled trials of mindfulness and CPAP compliance remain to be performed, this review supports the hypothesis that mindfulness may be used as an adjunct method in order to increase CPAP adherence in OSA patients.

Exploring digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in an early intervention in psychosis service - A study protocol for an initial feasibility study with process evaluation

AIM

Early psychosis may be a critical time at which clinical trajectories are still evolving, and sleep interventions hold promise to improve outcomes at this stage. Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia shows promise in psychosis, there has been limited evaluation of delivery within current care. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of providing fully-automated digital CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) within an early intervention in psychosis service.

METHODS

We will conduct a single-arm feasibility trial within an early psychosis intervention service, and up to 40 individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis and with evidence of insomnia can be enrolled (May 2021 - August 2022). Additional service user inclusion criteria are capacity to consent and access to a suitable technological device to access digital CBT. Participants will be offered access to a fully-automated digital CBT-I program (Sleepio) delivered using web and/or mobile app. The study comprises pre- and post- intervention questionnaire assessments and interviews with service users and staff to provide initial outcome signals.

RESULTS

Quantitative questionnaire data will be analysed descriptively, alongside rates of eligibility, consent, uptake and completion. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. Results will be used to develop a logic model describing feasibility and implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

From this study, we hope to better understand how to deliver digital CBT for insomnia within an early intervention in psychosis service. This study will help inform further research, including how best to support staff in using Sleepio, and inform the design of subsequent trials in this area.

Experiences of group-based cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, with a prevalence of insomnia disorders in up to 70%. Patients' experiences of participating in group-based cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) are sparsely explored, and CBT-I has not been evaluated in patients with RA until now. Therefore, the aim was to explore patients' experiences of CBT-I and how the components of CBT-I were incorporated in sleep management.

DESIGN

We conducted a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. The interview guide was developed based on CBT-I, with questions that explicitly explored the participants' experiences of sleep education and the behavioural components of CBT-I.

SETTING

Interviews were conducted one-to-one at Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Copenhagen.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with RA who had received CBT-I as intervention in a randomised controlled trial (N=11). The analysis was based on a reflexive thematic method.

RESULTS

Five themes were identified (1) When knowledge contributes to an altered perception of sleep, referring to the reduced misperception and increased motivation that followed sleep education, (2) Overcoming habits and perceptions to accelerate sleep onset, referring to barriers related to sleep behaviour and how stimulus control enabled them to find meaningful behaviour, (3) The sleep window of challenges in learning how to sleep right referring to that payoff from sleep restriction did not come easily or by magic, and commitment gave them confidence to continue, (4) Relaxation becomes a behavioural habit and goes beyond sleep, referring to a means to achieve a relaxed body and mind and how they thereby coped better with RA-related symptoms and (5) Break the cycle and regain control referring to how trust in one's own accomplishment was crucial to reducing worrying.

CONCLUSION

The process towards eliminating insomnia was a bodily experience and involved a changed mindset that resulted in an alteration of behaviour and cognitions.

Patient Responsiveness to a Sleep and Circadian Intervention in a Sample of Adults With Serious Mental Illness

Understanding patient responsiveness, a component of fidelity, is essential as it impacts treatment outcome and ongoing use of treatment elements. This study evaluated patient responsiveness-operationalized as receptivity to treatment modules and ratings of the usefulness and the utilization of treatment elements-to the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) in a sample of adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and sleep/circadian dysfunction. Adults with SMI and sleep/circadian dysfunction (N = 104) received TranS-C in a community mental health setting. Independent raters rated TranS-C sessions to assess receptivity. At posttreatment and 6-month follow-up, participants completed a usefulness scale, utilization scale, the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance (PROMIS-SD) and Sleep-Related Impairment (PROMIS-SRI) scales, DSM-5 Cross-Cutting Measure (DSM-5-CC), and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Receptivity was rated as somewhat to fully understood, and predicted a reduction on the DSM-5-CC. On average, participants rated TranS-C as moderately useful and utilized treatment elements occasionally. Ratings of usefulness were associated with the PROMIS-SD, PROMIS-SRI, and DSM-5-CC at posttreatment, but not with the SDS. Ratings of utilization were not associated with outcome. The findings add to the literature on patient responsiveness, an implementation outcome, and provide data on the utility of TranS-C within a community mental health setting.

Effects of pharmacotherapy on sleep-related outcomes in adults with chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Background

Adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) suffer impaired sleep. Medications for CLBP can impact sleep which in turn may influence treatment outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of pharmacotherapy (any type) on sleep in adults with CLBP.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from inception to 10 July 2022. Randomised controlled trials that investigated the effects of pharmacotherapy on sleep in adults with CLBP were included. Manual citation search of relevant systematic reviews and included studies were also conducted. Mean change from baseline for sleep outcomes (e.g., sleep quality, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset) was the effect of interest. Pairwise inverse-variance random effect meta-analysis was performed to impute pooled estimates (Hedges' g or risk ratios). The Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method was used where there were ≤5 studies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used for evaluating the certainty of evidence. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022309419).

Findings

Assessment of 3959 records resulted in nine studies (n = 2927) being included. Pharmacotherapy for CLBP management had a small, yet unlikely clinically significant, effect on improving sleep in adults with CLBP, when compared to placebo (g [95% CI]: -0.23 [-0.37, -0.09], p = .0009; I 2  = 30.1%; n = 1433; studies: n = 8; GRADE: low). Notably, no eligible studies investigated the effect of sleep medications in this population, despite being within the scope of this review.

Interpretation

Pharmacotherapy used to manage CLBP provided improvements in sleep in adults with CLBP. Given that these effects were small and unlikely clinically significant, clinicians could consider alternative treatments (e.g., non-pharmacological interventions) for managing sleep in adults with CLBP. However, low to very low certainty of evidence precluded strong conclusions. To improve certainty of evidence and confidence in the effect estimates, future research needs to use robust method to minimise bias. Additional research evaluating multiple sleep characteristics, using both validated objective and subjective measures, is also warranted to further investigate the influence of distinct sleep parameters.

Funding

The Summer Research Scholarship from the Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Australia.

Catastrophizing and Hypervigilance Influence Subjective Sleep Quality in Painful TMD Patients

Aims: To determine sleep quality and associated factors in a group of patients with painful TMDs. Methods: The medical records of 80 patients with arthralgia and/or myofascial pain were reviewed and compared to a healthy control group. Data about sex, age, subjective pain, physical activity, social activity, subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), pain vigilance (Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire [PVAQ]), and pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS]) were collected. Relationships between PSQI, age, pain intensity, PVAQ, and PCS in the TMD group were also analyzed. Data from the control group were used to transform the PSQI results into T-scores, which were then used to divide the TMD group into two subgroups: normal and impaired sleep. Results: TMD patients presented a significantly higher (P < .001) PSQI score than the control group. Also, in the TMD group, there was a low to moderate correlation between PSQI and pain intensity and a significant correlation between PVAQ and PCS. The impaired sleep group presented a significantly higher (P < .001) PSQI T-score than the normal sleep group. Univariate analysis showed that subjective pain, social activity, and the PCS total and subscale scores differed significantly between the different PSQI T-score groups. The comparison between TMD pain patients and control subjects showed a significantly higher prevalence of T-score discordance in almost all PSQI components in TMD patients with impaired sleep. Conclusion: Subjective sleep quality in painful TMD patients could be associated with and influenced by psychosocial factors (catastrophizing and hypervigilance), social activity, and pain intensity.

Tailored Music Listening in Persons With Dementia: A Feasibility Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of tailored music listening intervention on sleep disturbances in older adults with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: We randomly assigned 33 older adults with dementia (mean age 71.7 [SD: 7.1], 72.7% female, 81.8% African American/Black) and their caregivers (mean age 58.4 [SD: 16.7], 72.7% female, 84.8% African American/Black) to a wait-list control or intervention group (NCT04157244). Results: The music intervention was feasible as evidenced by high study measure completion and retention rates (>90%). Recruitment was stopped prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We found mixed acceptability results from the survey and qualitative interviews with the participants. Both groups improved on objective sleep outcomes of sleep latency and wake sleep after onset. We found a small effect size for sleep duration post-intervention. Discussion: The findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility of a tailored music intervention and identified ways to improve its acceptability.

Development and acceptability of a mobile health application integrated with the electronic heath record for treatment of chronic insomnia disorder

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To describe the development and feasibility of a cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) program delivered via personal digital devices and fully integrated with the electronic health record (EHR).

METHODS

A multidisciplinary team of clinicians and members of our Center for Digital Health collaborated to develop a Chronic Insomnia Interactive Care Plan (ChI-ICP), an application that provides personalized and just in time education and promotes self-management using CBT-I concepts, and is activated from and fully integrated into the EHR. Following development, we evaluated patient engagement and workflows, assessed changes to provider workload, and examined outcomes on measures of insomnia during a pilot deployment of the application.

RESULTS

A total of 222 patients were enrolled and 179 engaged with the plan during the 3-month pilot program. Enrolled patients generated an average of 3.9 ± 2.3 In Basket messages, most being automated notifications related to noncompletion of assigned tasks, while only a few were related to patients requesting additional training or help with insomnia. Sleep efficiency improved from baseline until the completion of the program from 74.5% ± 16.7% to 87.6% ± 10.8% (P = .001), and the Insomnia Severity Index improved from 14.9 ± 5.22 to 11.6 ± 4.80 (P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot implementation of an integrated ChI-ICP, patient engagement was favorable, workflows and workload were not significantly burdensome for the care teams, and initial evaluation of efficacy was favorable. This provides evidence for an application that is a scalable method to assist patients with chronic insomnia and future work should assess its efficacy in controlled trials.

CITATION

Morgenthaler TI, Kolla BP, Anderson SE, et al. Development and acceptability of a mobile health application integrated with the electronic heath record for treatment of chronic insomnia disorder. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(12):2785-2792.

Management of Sleep and Fatigue in Gastrointestinal Patients

Sleep is an essential physiologic process, and unfortunately, people with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions are more likely than people in the general population to experience poor sleep quality, sleep disorders, and fatigue. Herein, we present information on common sleep disorders, fatigue, and data on these problems in various GI populations. We also discuss several treatments for sleep concerns and emerging research on the use of these treatments in GI populations. Cases that illustrate the GI/sleep relationship are presented, in addition to guidance for your own practice and cultural considerations.

Sleep to Reduce Incident Depression Effectively (STRIDE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing stepped-care cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia versus sleep education control to prevent major depression

BACKGROUND

Prevention of major depressive disorder (MDD) is a public health priority. Strategies targeting individuals at elevated risk for MDD may guide effective preventive care. Insomnia is a reliable precursor to depression, preceding half of all incident and relapse cases. Thus, insomnia may serve as a useful entry point for preventing MDD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended as the first-line treatment for insomnia, but widespread implementation is limited by a shortage of trained specialists. Innovative stepped-care approaches rooted in primary care can increase access to CBT-I and reduce rates of MDD.

METHODS/DESIGN

We propose a large-scale stepped-care clinical trial in the primary care setting that utilizes a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) design to determine the effectiveness of dCBT-I alone and in combination with clinician-led CBT-I for insomnia and the prevention of MDD incidence and relapse. Specifically, our care model uses digital CBT-I (dCBT-I) as a first-line intervention to increase care access and reduce the need for specialist resources. Our proposal also adds clinician-led CBT-I for patients who do not remit with first-line intervention and need a more personalized approach from specialty care. We will evaluate negative repetitive thinking as a potential treatment mechanism by which dCBT-I and CBT-I benefit insomnia and depression outcomes.

DISCUSSION

This project will test a highly scalable model of sleep care in a large primary care system to determine the potential for wide dissemination and implementation to address the high volume of population need for safe and effective insomnia treatment and associated prevention of depression.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03322774. Registered on October 26, 2017.

How Would You Manage This Patient With Chronic Insomnia? : Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Insomnia, which is characterized by persistent sleep difficulties in association with daytime dysfunction, is a common concern in clinical practice. Chronic insomnia disorder is defined as symptoms that occur at least 3 times per week and persist for at least 3 months. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) published recent guidelines on behavioral and psychological treatment as well as pharmacologic therapy for chronic insomnia disorder. Regarding behavioral and psychological approaches, the only intervention strongly recommended was multicomponent cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Regarding pharmacologic treatment, the AASM, based on weak evidence, suggested a limited number of medications that might be useful and others that probably are not. Here, 2 clinicians with expertise in sleep disorders-one a clinical psychologist and the other a physician-debate the management of a patient with chronic insomnia who has been treated with medications. They discuss the role of behavioral and psychological interventions and pharmacologic therapy for chronic insomnia and how the primary care practitioner should approach such a patient.

A critical appraisal of clinical practice guidelines on insomnia using the RIGHT statement and AGREE II instrument

OBJECTIVE

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) have an indispensable role in guiding the selection of various treatments for insomnia, however, little is known about the quality of released insomnia CPGs. This study aims to critically appraise the quality of existing insomnia CPGs and identify quality limitations.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Biology Medicine disc, and 6 databases of international guideline developing institutions were systematically searched. CPGs on the diagnosis or treatment of insomnia were included. Reviewers independently extracted basic information and development methods, and assessed methodological quality and reporting quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool and Reporting Items for practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) checklist respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to measure the agreement among reviewers and assess inter-rater reliability.

RESULTS

Twenty-six CPGs were identified that focused on adults, children, or children with autistic spectrum disorder, patients in the intensive care unit, patients with cancer and pregnant, lactating or menopausal women. Twenty-two CPGs used nine grading systems to rate the level of evidence and strength of recommendation. 53.85% CPGs were classified as "recommended with modification" according to the AGREE II scores (ICC from 0.64 to 0.90), and 2 CPGs were "recommended". The "clarity of presentation" domain achieved the highest mean score (67.9% ± 11.04%) but the "applicability" domain (37.1% ± 12.67%) achieved the lowest. The average reporting rate of RIGHT items in all guidelines was 67.87%.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of guidelines varied substantially. Guideline developers should realize the importance of guideline applicability, patients' preferences and values.

Impact of Nonpharmacologic Interventions Targeting Sleep Disturbances or Disorders in Patients With Inflammatory Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

OBJECTIVE

Patients with inflammatory arthritis have a high risk of sleep disturbances and disorders. The objective was to evaluate the evidence of nonpharmacologic interventions targeting sleep disturbances or disorders in patients with inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS

A systematic search was undertaken from inception to September 8, 2020. We included randomized trials concerning nonpharmacologic interventions applied in adults with inflammatory arthritis and concomitant sleep disturbances or disorders. The primary outcome was the sleep domain, while secondary outcomes were core outcome domains for inflammatory arthritis trials and harms. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was applied, and the overall quality of the evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. Effect sizes for continuous outcomes were based on the standardized mean difference, combined using random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Six trials (308 patients) were included in the quantitative synthesis; 3 of these reported improvement in sleep in favor of the nonpharmacologic interventions. The meta-analysis of the sleep domains indicated a large clinical effect of -0.80 (95% confidence interval -1.33, -0.28) in favor of nonpharmacologic interventions targeting sleep disturbances or disorders. The estimate was rated down twice for risk of bias and unexplained inconsistency; this risk was assessed as corresponding to low-quality evidence. None of the secondary core outcomes used in contemporary inflammatory arthritis trials indicated a clinical benefit in favor of nonpharmacologic interventions targeting sleep.

CONCLUSION

Nonpharmacologic interventions targeting sleep disturbances/disorders in patients with inflammatory arthritis indicated a promising effect on sleep outcomes, but not yet with convincing evidence.

Network meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of a prescription digital therapeutic for chronic insomnia to medications and face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy in adults

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the only Food and Drug Administration-authorized prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) Somryst versus face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), or FDA-approved prescription medications for insomnia.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify relevant studies. A Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to examine (1) mean change in insomnia severity index (ISI); (2) proportional change in ISI remitters; (3) mean change in wake after sleep onset (WASO); and (4) mean change in sleep onset latency (SOL).

RESULTS

Twenty studies provided data on the PDT, CBT-I, CBT-I in combination with self-help (SH), or two prescription medications (eszopiclone and zolpidem). The PDT was associated with significant mean change in ISI (-5.77, 95% Credible Interval [CrI] - 8.53, -3.07) and ISI remitters (OR 12.33; 95% CrI 2.28, 155.91) compared to placebo, and had the highest probability of being the most effective treatment overall for ISI mean change (56%), and ISI remitters (64%). All evaluated interventions significantly outperformed placebo for WASO but no significant differences were observed for SOL (five interventions). Sensitivity analyses excluding medications and meta-regression (assessing type, duration, delivery method for CBT-I) did not affect NMA results.

CONCLUSIONS

This network meta-analysis demonstrated that a PDT delivering CBT-I had the highest probability of being most effective compared to face-to-face CBT-I, prescription sleep medications, or placebo, as measured by reductions in mean ISI score from baseline and ISI-determined remittance.

Stepped care management of insomnia co-occurring with sleep apnea: the AIR study protocol

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia are commonly co-occurring conditions that amplify morbidity and complicates the management of affected patients. Unfortunately, previous research provides limited guidance as to what constitutes the best and most practical management approach for this comorbid patient group. Some preliminary studies show that when cognitive behavioral insomnia therapy (CBT-I) is combined with standard OSA therapies for these patients, outcomes are improved. However, the dearth of trained providers capable of delivering CBT-I has long served as a pragmatic barrier to the widespread use of this therapy in clinical practice. The emergence of sophisticated online CBT-I (OCBT-I) programs could improve access, showing promising reductions in insomnia severity. Given its putative scalability and apparent efficacy, some have argued OCBT-I should represent a 1st-stage intervention in a broader stepped care model that allocates more intensive and less assessable therapist-delivered CBT-I (TCBT-I) only to those who show an inadequate response to lower intensity OCBT-I. However, the efficacy of OCBT-I as a 1st-stage therapy within a broader stepped care management strategy for insomnia comorbid with OSA has yet to be tested with comorbid OSA/insomnia patients.

METHODS/DESIGN

This dual-site randomized clinical trial will use a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) design to test a stepped care model relative to standard positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and determine if (1) augmentation of PAP therapy with OCBT-I improves short-term outcomes of comorbid OSA/insomnia and (2) providing a higher intensity 2nd-stage CBT-I to patients who show sub-optimal short-term outcomes with OCBT-I+PAP improves short and longer-term outcomes. After completing baseline assessment, the comorbid OSA/insomnia patients enrolled will be randomized to a 1st-stage therapy that includes usual care PAP + OCBT-I or UC (usual care PAP + sleep hygiene education). Insomnia will be reassessed after 8 weeks. OCBT-I recipients who meet "remission" criteria (defined as an Insomnia Severity Index score < 10) will continue PAP but will not be offered any additional insomnia intervention and will complete study outcome measures again after an additional 8 weeks and at 3 and 6 month follow-ups. OCBT-I recipients classified as "unremitted" after 8 weeks of treatment will be re-randomized to a 2nd-stage treatment consisting of continued, extended access to OCBT-I or a switch to TCBT-I. Those receiving the 2nd-stage intervention as well as the UC group will be reassessed after another 8 weeks and at 3- and 6-month follow-up time points. The primary outcome will be insomnia remission. Secondary outcomes will include subjective and objective sleep data, including sleep time, sleep efficiency, fatigue ratings, PAP adherence, sleepiness ratings, sleep/wake functioning ratings, and objective daytime alertness.

DISCUSSION

This study will provide new information about optimal interventions for patients with comorbid OSA and insomnia to inform future clinical decision-making processes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03109210 , registered on April 12, 2017, prospectively registered.

Self-efficacy in Insomnia Symptom Management after Digital CBT-I Mediates Insomnia Severity during the COVID-19 Pandemic

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) can reduce acute insomnia and depressive symptoms and prevent symptom recurrence. The current study evaluated self-efficacy in managing insomnia symptoms as a potential mediator of the relationship between prior dCBT-I and subsequent insomnia and depressive symptoms assessed during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHOD

Participants were 208 adults who completed a randomized controlled trial of dCBT-I versus sleep education in 2016-2017 and also completed self-report assessments of insomnia, depression, and self-efficacy in managing insomnia symptoms. Data were collected in May 2020, five weeks into state-wide COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Regression and mediation analyses were used to evaluate the extent to which self-efficacy accounted for the relationship between treatment condition and improvement in insomnia and depressive symptoms from pre-treatment to COVID-19 follow-up.

RESULTS

Prior dCBT-I predicted greater self-efficacy in managing insomnia symptoms. Self-efficacy accounted for 49% and 67% of the protective effect of dCBT-I against COVID-era insomnia and depressive symptoms, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study affirms the importance of self-efficacy as a key intervention outcome and potential mechanism by which dCBT-I predicts future sleep and mental health. Future studies that evaluate the role of self-efficacy in treatment effectiveness and resilience can provide additional clues about how to optimize dCBT-I for maximum benefit to public health.

The sleep, cancer and rest (SleepCaRe) trial: Rationale and design of a randomized, controlled trial of cognitive behavioral and bright light therapy for insomnia and fatigue in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Insomnia and fatigue symptoms are common in breast cancer. Active cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, appears to be particularly disruptive to sleep. Yet, sleep complaints often go unrecognised and under treated within routine cancer care. The abbreviated delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) and bright light therapy (BLT) may offer accessible and cost-effective sleep treatments in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

METHODS

The Sleep, Cancer and Rest (SleepCaRe) Trial is a 6-month multicentre, randomized, controlled, 2 × 2 factorial, superiority, parallel group trial. Women receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy for breast cancer at tertiary Australian hospitals will be randomly assigned 1:1:1:1 to one of four, non-pharmacological sleep interventions: (a) Sleep Hygiene and Education (SHE); (b) CBTI; (c) BLT; (d) CBT-I + BLT combined and simultaneously delivered. Each sleep intervention is delivered over 6 weeks, and will comprise an introductory session, a mid-point phone call, and regular emails. The primary (insomnia, fatigue) and secondary (health-related quality of life, rest activity rhythms, sleep-related impairment) outcomes will be assessed via online questionnaires at five time-points: baseline (t0, prior to intervention), mid-point intervention (t2, Week 4), post-intervention (t3, Week 7), 3-months (t4, Week 18), and 6-months follow-up (t5, Week 30).

CONCLUSIONS

This study will report novel data concerning the comparative and combined efficacy of CBT-I and BLT during chemotherapy. Findings will contribute to the development of evidence-based early sleep and fatigue intervention during chemotherapy for breast cancer. Clinical trial information Registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (http://anzctr.org.au/), Registration Number: ACTRN12620001133921.

PreScription DigitaL ThErapEutic for Patients with Insomnia (SLEEP-I a protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is effective at treating chronic insomnia, yet in-person CBT-I can often be challenging to access. Prior studies have used technology to bridge barriers but have been unable to extensively assess the impact of the digital therapeutic on real-world patient experience and multidimensional outcomes. Among patients with insomnia, our aim is to determine the impact of a prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) (PEAR-003b, FDA-authorised as Somryst; herein called PDT) that provides mobile-delivered CBT-I on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and healthcare utilisation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We are conducting a pragmatically designed, prospective, multicentre randomised controlled trial that leverages Hugo, a unique patient-centred health data-aggregating platform for data collection and patient follow-up from Hugo Health. A total of 100 participants with insomnia from two health centres will be enrolled onto the Hugo Health platform, provided with a linked Fitbit (Inspire 2) to track activity and then randomised 1:1 to receive (or not) the PDT for mobile-delivered CBT-I (Somryst). The primary outcome is a change in the insomnia severity index score from baseline to 9-week postrandomisation. Secondary outcomes include healthcare utilisation, health utility scores and clinical outcomes; change in sleep outcomes as measured with sleep diaries and a change in individual PROs including depressive symptoms, daytime sleepiness, health status, stress and anxiety. For those allocated to the PDT, we will also assess engagement with the PDT.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Institutional Review Boards at Yale University and the Mayo Clinic have approved the trial protocol. This trial will provide important data to patients, clinicians and policymakers about the impact of the PDT device delivering CBT-I on PROs, clinical outcomes and healthcare utilisation. Findings will be disseminated to participants, presented at professional meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04909229.

Examining the Utility of a Sleep Resource in Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy: An Observational Study

Patients seeking transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (T-ICBT) for anxiety or depression often have sleep difficulties. A brief resource that includes sleep psychoeducation and strategies for improving sleep (e.g., stimulus control and sleep restriction) may address comorbid insomnia without the need for an insomnia-specific ICBT course. This observational study explored patient use and feedback of a brief sleep resource available to all patients (n = 763) enrolled in an 8-week T-ICBT course. Overall, 30.1% of patients (n = 230) reviewed the resource and were older, more engaged with the ICBT course (i.e., more likely to complete the program, more logins, and greater number of days enrolled in the course) and had higher pretreatment insomnia symptoms than those who did not review the resource. Resource reviewers did not report larger improvements in symptoms of insomnia than non-reviewers, even among patients with clinical levels of insomnia, and average insomnia levels remained above the clinical cutoff at posttreatment. While patients were satisfied with the resource and it was beneficial to some patients, more research is needed to further explore how it may be integrated into T-ICBT and how therapists can encourage the use of the resource among patients who may benefit from the resource.

Effect of Culturally Tailored, Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Black Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Black women are at risk for insomnia disorder. Despite interest in addressing sleep health disparities, there is limited research investigating the efficacy of criterion-standard treatment (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia [CBT-I]) among this racial minority population.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of a standard version of an internet-delivered CBT-I program, a culturally tailored version, and a sleep education control at improving insomnia symptoms.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this single-blind, 3-arm randomized clinical trial, participants in a national, longitudinal cohort (Black Women's Health Study [BWHS]) were recruited between October 2019 and June 2020. BWHS participants with elevated insomnia symptoms were enrolled and randomized in the current study.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomized to receive (1) an automated internet-delivered treatment called Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi); (2) a stakeholder-informed, tailored version of SHUTi for Black women (SHUTi-BWHS); or (3) patient education (PE) about sleep.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]). Index score ranged from 0 to 28 points, with those scoring less than 8 points considered to not have clinically significant insomnia symptoms and a score of 15 points or higher suggesting insomnia disorder. An ISI score reduction of more than 7 points was considered a clinically significant improvement in insomnia symptoms. The SHUTi-BWHS program was hypothesized to be more effective at significantly decreasing insomnia severity compared with the SHUTi program and PE.

RESULTS

A total of 333 Black women were included in this trial, and their mean (SD) age was 59.5 (8.0) years. Those randomized to receive either SHUTi or SHUTi-BWHS reported significantly greater reductions in ISI score at 6-month follow-up (SHUTi: -10.0 points; 95% CI, -11.2 to -8.7; SHUTi-BWHS: -9.3 points; 95% CI, -10.4 to -8.2) than those randomized to receive PE (-3.6 points; 95% CI, -4.5 to -2.1) (P < .001). Significantly more participants randomized to SHUTi-BWHS completed the intervention compared with those randomized to SHUTi (86 of 110 [78.2%] vs 70 of 108 [64.8%]; P = .008). Participants who completed either intervention showed greater reductions in insomnia severity compared with noncompleters (-10.4 points [95% CI, -11.4 to -9.4] vs -6.2 points [95% CI, -8.6 to -3.7]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this randomized clinical trial, both the SHUTi and SHUTi-BWHS programs decreased insomnia severity and improved sleep outcomes more than PE. The culturally tailored SHUTi-BWHS program was more effective at engaging participants with the program, as a greater proportion completed the full intervention. Program completion was associated with greater improvements in sleep.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03613519.

Evaluating the Sleep Treatment Education Program (STEP-1): A single-session educational workshop addressing insomnia in cancer survivors

Insomnia is a common late effect of cancer, affecting as many as 27% of cancer survivors. Although cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is highly effective, treatment-associated burdens and limited availability of providers result in few survivors receiving this treatment. To address this gap, we developed the Sleep Treatment Education Program-1 (STEP-1), a single-session intervention addressing insomnia after cancer. As a preliminary evaluation of STEP-1's potential to improve survivors' insomnia, STEP-1 was delivered to a convenience sample of 34 cancer survivors as an educational workshop in person or by videoconference. Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) at the workshop and at 1-month follow-up; items assessing participants' intentions to implement program suggestions and satisfaction were also collected. At 1-month follow-up, mean insomnia symptoms on the ISI were significantly lower compared to baseline (9.73 vs 15.73; d = 1.38, P < .001); the reduction in mean ISI scores did not significantly differ between in-person and videoconference participants (5.82 vs 6.33; P = .78). These results, along with positive indicators of program engagement and satisfaction, support the potential efficacy of STEP-1 to meet survivors' needs for insomnia care. Particularly when delivered by videoconference, STEP-1 has the potential to dramatically improve access and uptake for insomnia treatment in cancer survivors. Results also more generally support development of low-intensity, self-management insomnia interventions for cancer survivors and potentially other populations.

Insomnia disorder: State of the science and challenges for the future

Insomnia disorder comprises symptoms during night and day that strongly affect quality of life and wellbeing. Prolonged sleep latency, difficulties to maintain sleep and early morning wakening characterize sleep complaints, whereas fatigue, reduced attention, impaired cognitive functioning, irritability, anxiety and low mood are key daytime impairments. Insomnia disorder is well acknowledged in all relevant diagnostic systems: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, 5th revision, International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd version, and International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision. Insomnia disorder as a chronic condition is frequent (up to 10% of the adult population, with a preponderance of females), and signifies an important and independent risk factor for physical and, especially, mental health. Insomnia disorder diagnosis primarily rests on self-report. Objective measures like actigraphy or polysomnography are not (yet) part of the routine diagnostic canon, but play an important role in research. Disease concepts of insomnia range from cognitive-behavioural models to (epi-) genetics and psychoneurobiological approaches. The latter is derived from knowledge about basic sleep-wake regulation and encompass theories like rapid eye movement sleep instability/restless rapid eye movement sleep. Cognitive-behavioural models of insomnia led to the conceptualization of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia, which is now considered as first-line treatment for insomnia worldwide. Future research strategies will include the combination of experimental paradigms with neuroimaging and may benefit from more attention to dysfunctional overnight alleviation of distress in insomnia. With respect to therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia merits widespread implementation, and digital cognitive-behavioural therapy may assist delivery along treatment guidelines. However, given the still considerable proportion of patients responding insufficiently to cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia, fundamental studies are highly necessary to better understand the brain and behavioural mechanisms underlying insomnia. Mediators and moderators of treatment response/non-response and the associated development of tailored and novel interventions also require investigation. Recent studies suggest that treatment of insomnia may prove to add significantly as a preventive strategy to combat the global burden of mental disorders.

Treating sleep and circadian problems to promote mental health: perspectives on comorbidity, implementation science and behavior change

Insufficient sleep and mistimed sleep are prominent, yet under-appreciated and understudied, contributors to poor mental health and to mental disorders. The evidence that improving sleep and circadian functioning is an important pathway to mental health continues to mount. The goal of this paper is to highlight three major challenges ahead. Challenge 1 points to the possibility that comorbidity is the norm not the exception for the sleep and circadian disorders that are associated with mental disorders. Hence, the sleep and circadian problems experienced by people diagnosed with a mental disorder may not fit into the neat diagnostic categories of existing nosologies nor be adequately treated with single disorder approaches. The Sleep Health Framework and the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) are discussed as alternative approaches. Challenge 2 points to the large time lag between the development of a treatment and the availability of that treatment in routine clinical practice. This is a key reason for the emergence of implementation science, which is a flourishing, well-developed, and quickly moving field. There is an urgent need for more applications of implementation science within sleep and circadian science. Challenge 3 describes one of the greatest puzzles of our time-the need to unlock the fundamental elements of behavior change. There is potential to harness the science of behavior change to encourage widespread engagement in sleep health behavior and thereby reduce the staggering burden of sleep and circadian problems and the associated mental health problems.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of suvorexant for the treatment of vasomotor symptom-associated insomnia disorder in midlife women

Study Objectives

The neuropeptide orexin promotes wakefulness, modulates thermoregulation, increases after menopause, and is normalized in women receiving estrogen therapy, suggesting a role for orexin antagonism as a treatment for the vasomotor symptom (VMS)-associated insomnia disorder. We tested the efficacy of the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant for chronic insomnia related to nighttime VMS.

Methods

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 56 women with chronic insomnia associated with nighttime VMS, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores ≥15, and &gt;30 min of diary-rated wake after sleep-onset (WASO) were randomized to receive oral suvorexant 10–20 mg (n = 27) or placebo (n = 29) nightly for 4 weeks. Analysis of within-person change in ISI was adjusted for baseline ISI and race.

Results

Mean baseline ISI scores were 18.1 (95% CI, 16.8 to 19.4) and 18.3 (95% CI, 17.2 to 19.5) in the suvorexant and placebo groups, respectively (p = .81). The average 4-week ISI within-person decrease from baseline was greater on suvorexant (−8.1 [95% CI, −10.2 to −6.0]) compared to placebo (−5.6 [95% CI, −7.4 to −3.9], p = .04). Compared to placebo, nighttime diary-rated VMS frequency was significantly reduced with suvorexant (p &lt; .01). While diary-rated WASO and total sleep time trended toward improvement on suvorexant, findings were not significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Daytime VMS and other sleep-related outcomes did not differ between groups. Suvorexant was well tolerated.

Conclusion

These results suggest that suvorexant is likely a well-tolerated and efficacious treatment for VMS-associated insomnia disorder and reduces nighttime VMS. Antagonism of orexin receptors could provide a novel therapeutic option for midlife women with VMS-associated chronic insomnia.

Clinical Trial Information

Efficacy of Suvorexant in the Treatment of Hot Flash-associated Insomnia, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03034018, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03034018.

Mobile Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Improves Autonomic Activation and Subjective Sleep Quality of Healthy Adults – A Pilot Study

Objective

Restorative sleep is associated with increased autonomous parasympathetic nervous system activity that might be improved by heart rate variability-biofeedback (HRV-BF) training. Hence the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a four-week mobile HRV-BF intervention on the sleep quality and HRV of healthy adults.

Methods

In a prospective study, 26 healthy participants (11 females; mean age: 26.04 ± 4.52 years; mean body mass index: 23.76 ± 3.91 kg/m²) performed mobile HRV-BF training with 0.1 Hz breathing over four weeks, while sleep quality, actigraphy and HRV were measured before and after the intervention.

Results

Mobile HRV-BF training with 0.1 Hz breathing improved the subjective sleep quality in healthy adults [t(24) = 4.9127, p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.99] as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In addition, mobile HRV-BF training with 0.1 Hz breathing was associated with an increase in the time and frequency domain parameters SDNN, Total Power and LF after four weeks of intervention. No effect was found on actigraphy metrics.

Conclusions

Mobile HRV-BF intervention with 0.1 Hz breathing increased the reported subjective sleep quality and may enhance the vagal activity in healthy young adults. HRV-BF training emerges as a promising tool for improving sleep quality and sleep-related symptom severity by means of normalizing an impaired autonomic imbalance during sleep.

Web-based provider training of cognitive behavioral therapy of insomnia: engagement rates, knowledge acquisition, and provider acceptability

Insomnia is common but severely underreported and undertreated. One possible reason for this problem is the lack of providers in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). To address this we created CBTIweb.org, an online training platform for providers to learn the basics of sleep, assessing insomnia, and CBT-I. The present study assessed the reach of CBTIweb by examining engagement, knowledge acquisition, and perceived acceptability. Participants who registered for CBTIweb self-reported their practice setting and personal characteristics (i.e. degree, profession, licensure status). Knowledge acquisition was assessed with pre- and post-tests, and provider acceptability was assessed via a survey. In the first three months after launching CBTIweb, 2586 providers registered and 624 of these completed the training within three months of registering. Chi-square tests of independence revealed no differences in completion rates by education or profession, though trainees were more likely to initiate and complete treatment than licensed providers. Paired t tests revealed significant knowledge acquisition, and most providers positively rated the website navigation, content, aesthetics, and understanding of core CBT-I skills. This study demonstrated CBTIweb is an effective platform for training health professionals to be minimally proficient in the gold standard treatment for insomnia disorder.

Association between insomnia patients' pre-treatment characteristics and their responses to distinctive treatment sequences

STUDY OBJECTIVES

It is common to provide insomnia patients a second treatment when the initial treatment fails, but little is known about optimal treatment sequences for different patient types. This study examined whether pre-treatment characteristics/traits predict optimal treatment sequences for insomnia patients.

METHODS

A community sample of 211 adults (132 women; Mage = 45.6 ± 14.9 years) with insomnia were recruited. Patients were first treated with behavioral therapy (BT) or zolpidem (Zol). Non-remitting BT recipients were randomized to a second treatment with either Zol or cognitive therapy; non-remitting Zol recipients underwent BT or Trazodone as a second treatment. Remission rates were assessed at the end of the first and second 6-week treatments. We then compared the remission rates of dichotomous groups formed on the basis of gender, age, pretreatment scores on SF36 and Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, the presence/absence of psychiatric/medical comorbidities or pain disorders, and mean subjective sleep duration and efficiency within and across treatment sequences.

RESULTS

Lower remission rates were noted for those: with a pain disorder, poor mental health perceptions, high MFI fatigue scores, and lower sleep times and efficiencies. Patients with a pain disorder responded best to the BT-to-Zol sequence, whereas patients with more mental impairment, severe fatigue, short sleep, and low sleep efficiency responded poorly to treatment starting with BT.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain, fatigue, poor mental health status, and subjective sleep duration and efficiency all affect response to different insomnia treatment sequences. Findings may guide clinicians in matching insomnia treatments to their patients.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01651442, Protocol version 4, April 20, 2011, registered June 26, 2012, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01651442?rslt=With&type=Intr&cond=Insomnia&cntry=US&state=US%3ACO&city=Denver&age=12&draw=2&rank=1.

The Interplay Between Problematic Online Pornography Use, Psychological Stress, Emotion Dysregulation and Insomnia Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mediation Analysis

PURPOSE

Although a link between problematic online pornographic use (POPU) and insomnia symptoms has been established, psychological and psychopathological mechanisms underlying this relationship are still not clear. Psychological stress and emotion dysregulation have been pointed out as relevant in the development and maintenance of insomnia. This study aims to explore the associations between POPU, psychological stress, emotion dysregulation and insomnia symptoms and to understand the mediating role of psychological stress and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between POPU and insomnia symptoms.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

A sample of 776 Italian adults aged 19-48 years (51.4% female; M age = 28.49; SD = 7.33) completed questionnaires regarding demographics, COVID-19-related variables, POPU, psychological stress, emotion dysregulation, and insomnia symptoms.

RESULTS

After controlling for demographic covariates and COVID-19-related variables, multiple mediation model showed that higher psychological stress and emotion dysregulation fully mediated the link between POPU and insomnia.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the significance of the negative consequences of POPU and underline the importance of working on this and its effects on psychological stress and emotion dysregulation to limit insomnia.

A pilot feasibility trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia in people with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE

Poor sleep is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), associated with worse overall disease course and predominantly attributable to insomnia. While cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, it is untested in IBD. It is unclear if CBT-I will be as effective in this group given the extent of night-time symptoms people with IBD experience. Thus, we evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of CBT-I in IBD.

DESIGN

We comprehensively assessed sleep in people with mild-to-moderately active IBD using questionnaires, daily diaries and actigraphy. People with significant insomnia symptoms were allocated to a single-arm, uncontrolled pilot feasibility study of gold-standard CBT-I treatment. They were then reassessed post-treatment.

RESULTS

20 participants with IBD completed a baseline assessment. 10 were experiencing insomnia and were allocated to CBT-I. All participants who were offered CBT-I elected to complete it, and all completed 5/5 sessions. Participants rated treatment acceptability highly and daily diary and actigraphy completion rates were >95%. At baseline, participants with insomnia evidenced significantly worse sleep than participants without insomnia. Following CBT-I, participants reported significant improvements in diary and actigraphy measures of sleep continuity, dysfunctional sleep-related beliefs and IBD disease activity.

CONCLUSION

CBT-I was feasible and acceptable and demonstrated a signal for efficacy in the treatment of insomnia in IBD. Importantly, the improvements in sleep continuity were consistent with the extant literature. Future fully powered randomised controlled studies should evaluate whether treatment of insomnia can improve other aspects of IBD, including pain and inflammation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04132024.

Insomnia disorder update: the benefits of screening and treatment for this common presentation

Insomnia is a chronic condition and major healthcare problem for Australians across the lifespan. Insomnia's high prevalence and disease burden render it an important target for treatment. Further, and importantly, there exist established bidirectional links between insomnia and a range of health conditions, with insomnia both contributing to risk, maintenance and relapse of comorbid conditions. Recent clinical research demonstrates that treating insomnia in its own right is important for resolution of insomnia and for optimising treatment outcomes for comorbid presenting problems. Due to its effectiveness and favourable side-effect profile, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-Insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first-line treatment even when comorbid conditions are present. CBT-I is a brief treatment often delivered in four to eight consultations. Individual, group and online CBT-I have each demonstrated effectiveness. Outcomes for online CBT-I are often stronger when individualised clinician support is provided. Specifically assessing for and treating insomnia in clinical practice may provide an opportunity to optimise treatment outcome in many patients.

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Wildfires on Sleep Disturbances

Wildfires present a serious risk to humans as well as to the environment. Wildfires cause loss of lives, economic losses, expose people to personal as well as collective trauma, and compromise the mental health of survivors. Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent following a traumatic event; however, their prevalence is not well established amongst those confronted by natural disasters such as wildfires. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise the empirical findings pertaining to wildfires and the prevalence of sleep disturbances in the general community affected by this natural disaster. We searched EBSCO, PsychINFO, Medline, SpringerLink, CINAHL Complete, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library between January 2012 and March 2021. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings from this systematic review suggest that sleep disturbances, assessed one to ten months following the fires, are highly prevalent in wildfire survivors, with insomnia (ranging between 63–72.5%) and nightmares (ranging between 33.3–46.5%), being the most prevalent sleep disturbances reported in this cohort. Results also highlight the significant associations between sleep disturbances and post-traumatic symptoms following the trauma of wildfires. There is a possible link between sleep disturbance prevalence, severity of, and proximity to fires.

The effect of sleep restriction therapy for insomnia on sleep pressure and arousal: a randomised controlled mechanistic trial

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Sleep restriction therapy (SRT) effectively treats insomnia but mechanisms are poorly understood. Theoretical models suggest that potentiation of sleep pressure and reduction of arousal are key mechanisms of action. To our knowledge this has never been directly tested. We designed a randomised controlled trial with embedded mechanistic measurement to investigate if SRT causally modifies multidimensional assessments of sleep pressure and arousal.

METHODS

Participants aged 25-55 who met DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder were randomised to four weeks of SRT or time in bed regularisation (TBR), a control intervention that involves prescription of a regular but not reduced time in bed. Sleep pressure was assessed through daily diary appraisal of morning and evening sleepiness, weekly Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) scores, psychomotor vigilance, and NREM delta power (0.75-4.5Hz) from ambulatory polysomnographic recordings. Arousal was assessed through daily diary appraisal of cognitive arousal, the pre-sleep arousal scale (PSAS), and NREM beta power (15-32Hz). Outcomes were assessed at baseline (2-week period prior to randomisation), during the intervention phase (1-4 weeks post-randomisation), and at 12-week follow-up. We performed intention-to-treat analyses using linear mixed models. For continuous daily measures, the treatment period was split into early (weeks 1-2) and late (weeks 3-4) treatment.

RESULTS

Fifty-six participants (39 females, mean age=40.78±9.08) were assigned to SRT (n=27) or TBR (n=29). The SRT group showed enhanced sleep pressure relative to TBR, reflected in (1) enhanced sleepiness in the evening during early (d=1.17) and late treatment (d=0.92), and in the morning during early treatment (d=0.47); (2) higher daytime sleepiness on the ESS at weeks-1 and -2 (d=0.54, d=0.45); and (3) reduced psychomotor vigilance at week-1 (d=0.34). The SRT group also showed reduced arousal relative to TBR, reflected in lower levels of daily-monitored cognitive arousal during early treatment (d=0.53) and decreased PSAS total score at week-4 and week-12 (ds≥0.39). Power spectral analysis of all night NREM sleep revealed an increase in relative, but not absolute, EEG delta power at week-1 and week-4 (ds≥0.52) and a decrease of relative EEG beta power at week-4 (d=0.11).

CONCLUSION

For the first time we show that SRT increases sleep pressure and decreases arousal during acute implementation, providing support for mechanism-of-action.

Anti-Black racism and behavioral medicine: confronting the past to envision the future

Behavioral medicine research and practice have not traditionally acknowledged the detrimental effects of anti-Black racism (and other forms of systemic oppression) on health, interventions, or research. This commentary describes four ways that behavioral medicine researchers and clinicians can address the past to envision the future of behavioral medicine to promote equitable health for all: 1) name anti-Black racism, 2) ensure interventions address structural inequities, 3) advocate for systemic change, and 4) change expectations for publications.

Behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline

INTRODUCTION

This guideline establishes clinical practice recommendations for the use of behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults.

METHODS

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) commissioned a task force of experts in sleep medicine and sleep psychology to develop recommendations and assign strengths based on a systematic review of the literature and an assessment of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The task force evaluated a summary of the relevant literature and the quality of evidence, the balance of clinically relevant benefits and harms, patient values and preferences, and resource use considerations that underpin the recommendations. The AASM Board of Directors approved the final recommendations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations are intended as a guide for clinicians in choosing a specific behavioral and psychological therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adult patients. Each recommendation statement is assigned a strength ("strong" or "conditional"). A "strong" recommendation (ie, "We recommend…") is one that clinicians should follow under most circumstances. A "conditional" recommendation is one that requires that the clinician use clinical knowledge and experience, and to strongly consider the patient's values and preferences to determine the best course of action. 1. We recommend that clinicians use multicomponent cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adults. (STRONG). 2. We suggest that clinicians use multicomponent brief therapies for insomnia for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adults. (CONDITIONAL). 3. We suggest that clinicians use stimulus control as a single-component therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adults. (CONDITIONAL). 4. We suggest that clinicians use sleep restriction therapy as a single-component therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adults. (CONDITIONAL). 5. We suggest that clinicians use relaxation therapy as a single-component therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adults. (CONDITIONAL). 6. We suggest that clinicians not use sleep hygiene as a single-component therapy for the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder in adults. (CONDITIONAL).

Changes in EEG Alpha Activity during Attention Control in Patients: Association with Sleep Disorders

We aimed to assess which quantitative EEG changes during daytime testing in patients with sleep disorder (primary insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness groups). All experimental study participants were subjected to a long-term test for maintaining attention to sound stimuli, and their EEGs were recorded and then processed, using wavelet analysis, in order to estimate the power and frequency structure of alpha activity. In healthy subjects, the maximum increase in the alpha rhythm occurred near 9 Hz. Patients with primary insomnia were characterized by an increase in the amplitude of the alpha rhythm near 11 Hz. For subjects with sleep disorders, an increase in the amplitude of the alpha rhythm was observed in the entire frequency range (7.5–12.5 Hz), with a maximum increase at 9–10 Hz. Significant differences (p≤0.001) for changes in the alpha rhythm dynamics in the course of performing the attention test were observed in the frequency range of 7.5–10.5 Hz between the control group and patients with sleep disorders. The ratios of the alpha rhythm power values for passive stages with closed eyes before and after active stage were significantly different among the groups of healthy sleep volunteers, patients with primary insomnia, and patients with impaired sleep hygiene within the range of 9.5 to 12.5 Hz. The results of the current study supported the notion of a 24-h hyperarousal in primary insomnia.