Digital cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I): Chronotype moderation on intervention outcomes

Evening Chronotypes With Depression Report Poorer Outcomes of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: A Survey-Based Study of Self-Ratings

BACKGROUND

Preliminary evidence suggests that evening chronotype is related to poorer efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is unknown whether this is specific to particular medications, self-rated chronotype, or efficacy.

METHODS

In the Australian Genetics of Depression Study (n = 15,108; 75% women; 18-90 years; 68% with ≥1 other lifetime diagnosis), a survey recorded experiences with 10 antidepressants, and the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire was used to estimate chronotype. A chronotype polygenic score was calculated. Age- and sex-adjusted regression models (Bonferroni-corrected) estimated associations among antidepressant variables (how well the antidepressant worked [efficacy], duration of symptom improvement, side effects, discontinuation due to side effects) and self-rated and genetic chronotypes.

RESULTS

The chronotype polygenic score explained 4% of the variance in self-rated chronotype (r = 0.21). Higher self-rated eveningness was associated with poorer efficacy of escitalopram (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.06; p = .000035), citalopram (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05; p = .004), fluoxetine (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05; p = .001), sertraline (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04; p = .0008), and desvenlafaxine (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05; p = .004), and a profile of increased side effects (80% of those recorded; ORs = 0.93-0.98), with difficulty getting to sleep the most common. Self-rated chronotype was unrelated to duration of improvement or discontinuation. The chronotype polygenic score was only associated with suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide (self-reported). While our measures are imperfect, and not of circadian phase under controlled conditions, the model coefficients suggest that dysregulation of the phenotypic chronotype relative to its genetic proxy drove relationships with antidepressant outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The idea that variation in circadian factors influences response to antidepressants was supported and encourages exploration of circadian mechanisms of depressive disorders and antidepressant treatments.

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.

The efficacy of digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Insomnia and depression often co-occur. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) seems to be effective and safe for mitigating insomnia and depression. However, the efficacy of digitally-delivered CBT-I (dCBT-I) remains unclear. Therefore, this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to systematically review and evaluate the efficacy of dCBT-I in adults with insomnia and depression.

Methods

A systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases (as of June 5, 2022) was conducted for RCTs on dCBT-I. Statistical analyses were performed using Revan Manager. The effects of dCBT-I on insomnia and depression were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Seven studies involving 3,597 participants were included. This meta-analysis showed that dCBT-I reduced the severity of insomnia (SMD = -0.85, 95% CI [-1.00 to -0.69], p < 0.001) and depression (SMD = -0.47, 95% CI [-0.55 to -0.38], p < 0.001) in short terms, and also mitigated the severity of insomnia (SMD = -0.71, 95% CI [-1.00 to -0.44], p < 0.001) and depression (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI [-0.68 to -0.15], p = 0.002) in long terms. The effect of dCBT-I was comparable to that of traditional face-to-face CBT-I, and was generally maintained at follow-ups of 6 weeks to 6 months.

Conclusion

dCBT-I seems to be effective in alleviating insomnia and depression and might be considered as a viable treatment option for depression.

Group-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy versus waiting list in the treatment of insomnia in primary care: study protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Insomnia is common in the general population and is a risk factor for ill-health, which highlights the importance of treating insomnia effectively and cost-efficiently. Cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended as first-line treatment due to its long-term effectiveness and few side-effects, but its availability is limited. The aim of this pragmatic, multicentre randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of group-delivered CBT-I in primary care compared to a waiting-list control group.

METHODS

A pragmatic multicentre randomized controlled trial will be conducted with about 300 participants recruited across 26 Healthy Life Centres in Norway. Participants will complete online screening and provide consent before enrolment. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomized to a group-delivered CBT-I or to a waiting list according to a 2:1 ratio. The intervention consists of four two-hour sessions. Assessments will be performed at baseline, 4 weeks, 3- and 6 months post-intervention, respectively. The primary outcome is self-reported insomnia severity at 3 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life, fatigue, mental distress, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, sleep reactivity, 7-day sleep diaries, and data obtained from national health registries (sick leave, use of relevant prescribed medications, healthcare utilization). Exploratory analyses will identify factors influencing treatment effectiveness, and we will conduct a mixed-method process evaluation to identify facilitators and barriers of participants' treatment adherence. The study protocol was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research ethics in Mid-Norway (ID 465241).

DISCUSSION

This large-scale pragmatic trial will investigate the effectiveness of group-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy versus waiting list in the treatment of insomnia, generating findings that are generalizable to day-to-day treatment of insomnia in interdisciplinary primary care services. The trial will identify those who would benefit from the group-delivered therapy, and will investigate the rates of sick leave, medication use, and healthcare utilization among adults who undergo the group-delivered therapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was retrospectively registered in the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN16185698).