Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Acute Insomnia

Assessment and management of chronic insomnia disorder: an algorithm for primary care physicians

BACKGROUND

Primary care physicians often lack resources and training to correctly diagnose and manage chronic insomnia disorder. Tools supporting chronic insomnia diagnosis and management could fill this critical gap. A survey was conducted to understand insomnia disorder diagnosis and treatment practices among primary care physicians, and to evaluate a diagnosis and treatment algorithm on its use, to identify ways to optimize it specifically for these providers.

METHODS

A panel of experts developed an algorithm for diagnosing and treating chronic insomnia disorder, based on current guidelines and experience in clinical practice. An online survey was conducted with primary care physicians from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, who treat chronic insomnia patients, between January and February 2023. A sub-sample of participants provided open-ended feedback on the algorithm and gave suggestions for improvements.

RESULTS

Overall, 106 primary care physicians completed the survey. Half (52%, 55/106) reported they did not regularly screen for insomnia and half (51%, 54/106) felt they did not have enough time to address patients' needs in relation to insomnia or trouble sleeping. The majority (87%,92/106) agreed the algorithm would help diagnose chronic insomnia patients and 82% (87/106) agreed the algorithm would help improve their clinical practice in relation to managing chronic insomnia. Suggestions for improvements were making the algorithm easier to read and use.

CONCLUSION

The algorithm developed for, and tested by, primary care physicians to diagnose and treat chronic insomnia disorder may offer significant benefits to providers and their patients through ensuring standardization of insomnia diagnosis and management.

The European Insomnia Guideline: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023

Progress in the field of insomnia since 2017 necessitated this update of the European Insomnia Guideline. Recommendations for the diagnostic procedure for insomnia and its comorbidities are: clinical interview (encompassing sleep and medical history); the use of sleep questionnaires and diaries (and physical examination and additional measures where indicated) (A). Actigraphy is not recommended for the routine evaluation of insomnia (C), but may be useful for differential-diagnostic purposes (A). Polysomnography should be used to evaluate other sleep disorders if suspected (i.e. periodic limb movement disorder, sleep-related breathing disorders, etc.), treatment-resistant insomnia (A) and for other indications (B). Cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia is recommended as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia in adults of any age (including patients with comorbidities), either applied in-person or digitally (A). When cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia is not sufficiently effective, a pharmacological intervention can be offered (A). Benzodiazepines (A), benzodiazepine receptor agonists (A), daridorexant (A) and low-dose sedating antidepressants (B) can be used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (≤ 4 weeks). Longer-term treatment with these substances may be initiated in some cases, considering advantages and disadvantages (B). Orexin receptor antagonists can be used for periods of up to 3 months or longer in some cases (A). Prolonged-release melatonin can be used for up to 3 months in patients ≥ 55 years (B). Antihistaminergic drugs, antipsychotics, fast-release melatonin, ramelteon and phytotherapeutics are not recommended for insomnia treatment (A). Light therapy and exercise interventions may be useful as adjunct therapies to cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (B).

Insomnia nosology: a systematic review and critical appraisal of historical diagnostic categories and current phenotypes

Insomnia nosology has significantly evolved since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-III-R first distinguished between 'primary' and 'secondary' insomnia. Prior International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) nosology 'split' diagnostic phenotypes to address insomnia's heterogeneity and the DSM nosology 'lumped' them into primary insomnia, while both systems assumed causality for insomnia secondary to health conditions. In this systematic review, we discuss the historical phenotypes in prior insomnia nosology, present findings for currently proposed insomnia phenotypes based on more robust approaches, and critically appraise the most relevant ones. Electronic databases PsychINFO, PubMED, Web of Science, and references of eligible articles, were accessed to find diagnostic manuals, literature on insomnia phenotypes, including systematic reviews or meta-analysis, and assessments of the reliability or validity of insomnia diagnoses, identifying 184 articles. The data show that previous insomnia diagnoses lacked reliability and validity, leading current DSM-5-TR and ICSD-3 nosology to 'lump' phenotypes into a single diagnosis comorbid with health conditions. However, at least two new, robust insomnia phenotyping approaches were identified. One approach is multidimensional-multimethod and provides evidence for self-reported insomnia with objective short versus normal sleep duration linked to clinically relevant outcomes, while the other is multidimensional and provides evidence for two to five clusters (phenotypes) based on self-reported trait, state, and/or life-history data. Some approaches still need replication to better support whether their findings identify true phenotypes or simply different patterns of symptomatology. Regardless, these phenotyping efforts aim at improving insomnia nosology both as a classification system and as a mechanism to guide treatment.

Effect of one-shot cognitive behavioral therapy on insomnia and heart rate variability of health care workers at the time of COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

The emergence of sleep disturbances in response to major stressful events has been previously documented. Heart rate variability (HRV) is an objective marker that provides insight into autonomic nervous system dynamics. The aim of the present study was to examine the preliminary effectiveness of a one-shot session of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for frontline healthcare providers with acute insomnia.

METHODS

This study was conducted from 2020 to 2021 on healthcare workers with insomnia. The healthcare workers were randomly allocated to receive either one-shot cognitive behavioral therapy or routine care. Insomnia severity index (ISI) and heart rate variability were assessed before and 1 month after the interventions.

RESULTS

Among 57 patients (n = 31 in the intervention group and n = 26 in the control group), mean (± SD) age of both groups were 34.6 (± 9.5) and 36.6 (± 6.9), respectively. Most participants in both groups were female (81% and 65% in the intervention and control groups, respectively; p-value = 0.10). Insomnia severity index score decreased in the intervention group from 13.3 to 6.7 (p < 0.001). The change before and after the intervention was significant between the two groups for HF-normalized unit (high-frequency power band [0.15-0.40 Hz] in the normalized unit) and LF/HF (the ratio of low frequency to high frequency). HF-normalized unit increased in the intervention group (35.8 ± 21.5 vs. 45.6 ± 19.8 before and after the intervention, respectively), and decreased in the control group (43.9 ± 16.5 vs. 39.8 ± 18.5, before and after the intervention, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that a single-shot session of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is effective in managing acute insomnia symptoms in healthcare workers.

Stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: How can the COVID-19 pandemic inform our understanding and treatment of acute insomnia?

Stress and sleep are very closely linked, and stressful life events can trigger acute insomnia. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is highly likely to represent one such stressful life event. Indeed, a wide range of cross-sectional studies demonstrate that the pandemic is associated with poor sleep and sleep disturbances. Given the high economic and health burden of insomnia disorder, strategies that can prevent and treat acute insomnia, and also prevent the transition from acute insomnia to insomnia disorder, are necessary. This narrative review outlines why the COVID-19 pandemic is a stressful life event, and why activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, as a biological marker of psychological stress, is likely to result in acute insomnia. Further, this review outlines how sleep disturbances might arise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and why simultaneous hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis measurement can inform the pathogenesis of acute insomnia. In particular, we focus on the cortisol awakening response as a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, as cortisol is the end-product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. From a research perspective, future opportunities include identifying individuals, or particular occupational or societal groups (e.g. frontline health staff), who are at high risk of developing acute insomnia, and intervening. From an acute insomnia treatment perspective, priorities include testing large-scale online behavioural interventions; examining if reducing the impact of stress is effective and, finally, assessing whether "sleep vaccination" can maintain good sleep health by preventing the occurrence of acute insomnia, by preventing the transition from acute insomnia to insomnia disorder.

Improvement of Insomnia Symptoms following a Single 4-Hour CBT-I Workshop

STUDY OBJECTIVES

: Cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) is the first line of treatment for insomnia. However, the expanded use of CBT-I is limited by the number of specialty-trained clinicians in addition to the duration and cost of individual treatment sessions. One viable option is a single-session educational group format delivered by a trained health educator.

METHODS

: In a preliminary, single group pretest-posttest design, the effectiveness of group CBT-I delivered to community dwelling individuals with self-reported insomnia symptoms was evaluated. Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and provided information on sleep aid use, prior to and 1-month post attendance of a single 4-hour CBT-I workshop.

RESULTS

: Participants (N = 45) were 54 ± 16 years and 71% female. ISI scores significantly improved from baseline (20.09 ± 4.1) to 1-month follow-up (11.89 ±5.7; t = 10.1, p < .001) with an average change of 8.2 ± 5.4 points. Frequency of sleep aid use significantly dropped (χ² = 105.7, p = .017). Eighty percent of participants reported sleeping better or much better at follow-up. Twenty percent of participants met criteria for remission of insomnia and 35.6% of participants had ISI change scores meeting criteria for a Minimally Important Difference associated with improvements in fatigue, work productivity, and health related quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

: These preliminary data suggest that a single 4-hour CBT-I workshop delivered by a health educator can significantly improve insomnia symptoms, improve subjective sleep quality, and reduce sleep aid use among community dwelling adults with and without co-morbidities within 1-month.

ePSICONUT: An e-Health Programme to Improve Emotional Health and Lifestyle in University Students

The use of information and communication technologies in the health field is known as eHealth. Nowadays, the application of technological and digital tools for maintaining/improving physical and mental health is experiencing an exponential boom. These tools have been perceived as a powerful support for face-to-face therapies and lifestyle changes. Nevertheless, there is not enough scientific research that analyses the impact and consequences of eHealth interventions. More studies are needed to validate its application. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools in a programme called ePSICONUT. This programme was created to promote healthy lifestyle habits in university students. The sample consisted of 16 university students from the Dominican Republic aged 18−24 years (x¯ = 20.69; s = 1.74). ePSICONUT was developed in 12 weeks and its impact was analyzed by comparing the initial and the final psychological and lifestyle tests results, which were completed online by the participants. Results reported that the professionally supervised use of eHealth tools was associated with better psychological well-being, lees anxiety and depression, and better lifestyle habits (such as diet quality), even in stressful and changing situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic circumstances. However, more studies are needed to validate and promote the use of eHealth-based intervention programmes.

Sake yeast induces the sleep-promoting effects under the stress-induced acute insomnia in mice

Sleep deprivation induces adverse effects on the health, productivity, and performance. The individuals who could not get enough sleep temporarily experience the symptoms of an induced acute insomnia. This study investigated the efficacy of sake yeast in treatment of acute insomnia in mice. The results of this study showed that sake yeast induced a significant dose-dependent wake reduction, a rapid eye movement (REM) and a non-REM (NREM) sleep enhancement during the first 6 h after the oral administration of sake yeast with locomotor activity and core body temperature decreases under the stressful environment in a new cage. In fact, the wake amounts at 3 h and 6 h were significantly reduced after the oral administration of sake yeast compared with the vehicle. The NREM sleep amounts at 3 h and 6 h significantly increased after the administration of sake yeast compared with the vehicle. The REM amount at 6 h significantly increased after the administration of sake yeast compared with the vehicle, but not at 3 h. The previous study suggested that the sleep-promoting effects of sake yeast could be referred from the activating effect of adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2AR). In summary, the sake yeast is an A_2AR agonist and may induce sleep due to its stress-reducing and anti-anxiety properties. Further verification of the involvement of adenosine in the pathophysiology of insomnia is needed.

The natural history of insomnia: predisposing, precipitating, coping, and perpetuating factors over the early developmental course of insomnia

While there is an extensive literature on predisposing, precipitating, coping, and perpetuating factors in those with chronic insomnia, very little work has been undertaken to evaluate these factors over the early developmental course of insomnia. The present aim was to determine whether several hypothesized factors in each domain (predisposing, precipitating, coping, and perpetuating), assessed during an episode of acute insomnia (AI), are related to its persistence or remission to normal sleep. Participants comprised n = 140 people with AI and n = 737 normal sleepers (NS) recruited from the general public. Participants completed measures assessing predisposing characteristics (personality traits, arousal predisposition, and insomnia vulnerability), precipitating events and outcomes (life events, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression), coping styles (thought control strategies and coping styles), and perpetuating factors (sleep preoccupation, pre-sleep arousal, dysfunctional beliefs, and fatigue). Additionally, insomnia status (from AI at baseline to its persistence or natural remission [NR]) was assessed 1 month later (n = 129). Baseline differences between NS and individuals with AI were observed in each domain with increasing age, lower openness to experience and conscientiousness, higher insomnia severity, levels of anxiety, and affective sleep preoccupation significantly predicting AI status. Further, a previous episode of insomnia, higher depression scores, and affective sleep preoccupation scores significantly predicted its persistence, as opposed to its NR. Results are discussed with reference to the conceptualization of insomnia and how the findings may influence the design of preventative interventions to circumvent the transition from acute to chronic insomnia.

Insomnia Burden and Future Perspectives

Insomnia is an important but widely ignored health problem in modern society. Despite unequivocal evidence on its large prevalence, health and social impacts, comorbidities, and various pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic (behavioral and device-based) approaches, its effective management is still difficult and often incomplete. This article discusses the role of insomnia in modern societies, newer complicating factors, and its overall social and public health burden. Acute insomnia and sleep difficulties during pandemic and confinement are reviewed. The article also focuses on newer developments accumulating in the field of insomnia and possible future trends.