Effects of an Internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment for insomnia: Preliminary results

Journal title QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA
Author/s Gemma Battagliese, Chiara Baglioni, Francesca D'Elia, Cristiano Violani, Dieter Riemann, Caterina Lombardo
Publishing Year 2013 Issue 2013/32
Language Italian Pages 16 P. 7-22 File size 558 KB
DOI 10.3280/QPC2013-032002
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Insomnia is one of the most prevalent disorder in the general population. Patients with insomnia report a decrease in life quality and an increased risk of developing medical and psychological disorders. Despite meta-analytical studies have shown that Cognitive- Behaviour Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) is efficacious, it is underutilized and poorly accessible. Recently, the efficacy of CBT-I administered through the use of internet was evaluated. Results have shown significant improvements in nocturnal symptoms and in daytime consequences. Nevertheless, to our knowledge no study so far has evaluate the efficacy of an online CBT-I program on the emotional states associated to the disorder in patients with insomnia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an online CBT-I program both on self-reported symptoms and on emotional states. Ten patients with insomnia (8 F, 2 M), diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, were randomly assigned to either CBT-I or a waiting- list control group. Daily diaries were used to evaluate both sleep variables and emotional states. The data reported before starting the treatment and at the treatment conclusion were analyzed. Preliminary results showed that the CBT-I group at post-treatment showed reduced wake-after-sleep onset (WASO), increased sleep-efficacy (SEI) and reduced negative emotions in the morning both as compared to the WL group and as compared to the pretreatment. Preliminary results suggest that internet-delivered CBT-I is a valid and efficacious treatment option both for nocturnal symptoms and for daytime symptoms of insomnia as altered emotional states.

Keywords: Insomnia, behavioural cognitive treatment, internet, sleep diaries, sleep quality, emotional states

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Gemma Battagliese, Chiara Baglioni, Francesca D'Elia, Cristiano Violani, Dieter Riemann, Caterina Lombardo, Efficacia di un trattamento cognitivo comportamentale online per l’insonnia: risultati preliminari in "QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA" 32/2013, pp 7-22, DOI: 10.3280/QPC2013-032002