Using network intervention analysis to explore associations between participant expectations of and difficulties with cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia and clinical outcome: A proof of principle study

Factors influencing the effectiveness of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic insomnia in clinical practice

Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic insomnia (D-CBT-I) has been shown to be as efficacious as traditional CBT-I. However, not all patients achieve insomnia remission after treatment. We explored the factors influencing the effectiveness of D-CBT-I in a clinical practice. A total of 414 Asian chronic insomniacs were studied during a 6 week D-CBT-I intervention. All patients were assessed at baseline and posttreatment and were determined to be remitters or non-remitters, responders or non-responders by posttreatment criteria; Insomnia Severity Index (ISI <8) or ISI reduction ≥8, to examine whether remission and response status were associated with patient baseline characteristics. The average baseline ISI score in all subjects was 16.29 points. At posttreatment, 192 (46.4%) patients achieved ISI remission and 218 (52.7%) patients demonstrated an ISI response. An increased baseline early morning awakening time and ISI score were independently associated with a lower odds for remission (OR, 0.995 and 0.991, respectively). Increased baseline Patients Health Questionnaire-9 score was independently associated with higher odds for response (OR, 1.114). Our results suggest that D-CBT-I can be recommended as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, particularly in insomniacs with milder insomnia symptoms and more severe depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of D-CBT-I was adversely affected by longer early morning awakening time and higher insomnia severity at pretreatment, which may be improved by more intense intervention and greater therapeutic support or by traditional CBT-I.

Centrality measures in psychological networks: A simulation study on identifying effective treatment targets

The network theory of psychopathology suggests that symptoms in a disorder form a network and that identifying central symptoms within this network might be important for an effective and personalized treatment. However, recent evidence has been inconclusive. We analyzed contemporaneous idiographic networks of depression and anxiety symptoms. Two approaches were compared: a cascade-based attack where symptoms were deactivated in decreasing centrality order, and a normal attack where symptoms were deactivated based on original centrality estimates. Results showed that centrality measures significantly affected the attack's magnitude, particularly the number of components and average path length in both normal and cascade attacks. Degree centrality consistently had the highest impact on the network properties. This study emphasizes the importance of considering centrality measures when identifying treatment targets in psychological networks. Further research is needed to better understand the causal relationships and predictive capabilities of centrality measures in personalized treatments for mental disorders.

Mechanisms of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia

Although much is known now about behavioural, cognitive and physiological consequences of insomnia, little is known about changes after cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia on these particular factors. We here report baseline findings on each of these factors in insomnia, after which we address findings on their changes after cognitive behavioural therapy. Sleep restriction remains the strongest determinant of insomnia treatment success. Cognitive interventions addressing dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, sleep-related selective attention, worry and rumination further drive effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Future studies should focus on physiological changes after cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, such as changes in hyperarousal and brain activity, as literature on these changes is sparse. We introduce a detailed clinical research agenda on how to address this topic.

Chronic Insomnia Disorder across Europe: Expert Opinion on Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Care

One in ten adults in Europe have chronic insomnia, which is characterised by frequent and persistent difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep and daily functioning impairments. Regional differences in practices and access to healthcare services lead to variable clinical care across Europe. Typically, a patient with chronic insomnia (a) will usually present to a primary care physician; (b) will not be offered cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia-the recommended first-line treatment; (c) will instead receive sleep hygiene recommendations and eventually pharmacotherapy to manage their long-term condition; and (d) will use medications such as GABA receptor agonists for longer than the approved duration. Available evidence suggests that patients in Europe have multiple unmet needs, and actions for clearer diagnosis of chronic insomnia and effective management of this condition are long overdue. In this article, we provide an update on the clinical management of chronic insomnia in Europe. Old and new treatments are summarised with information on indications, contraindications, precautions, warnings, and side effects. Challenges of treating chronic insomnia in European healthcare systems, considering patients' perspectives and preferences are presented and discussed. Finally, suggestions are provided-with healthcare providers and healthcare policy makers in mind-for strategies to achieve the optimal clinical management.