Sleep locus of control and computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy (cCBT)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sleep Medicine
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Chronic insomnia affects a significant portion of the adult population.
• Sleep locus of control (SLOC) is a psychological construct related to perceived control over sleep.
• Understanding factors influencing treatment outcomes in insomnia is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between sleep locus of control and insomnia severity.
• To examine whether sleep locus of control mediates the effects of computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy (cCBT) on insomnia.
• To compare the impact of cCBT versus in-person therapy and control conditions on SLOC.

Main Methods:

• Secondary data analysis of adults with chronic insomnia.
• Inclusion of participants from a randomized controlled trial of cCBT and a comparison group receiving in-person group therapy.
• Assessment using the Sleep Locus of Control Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale, sleep diaries, and clinical interviews at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 4-week follow-up.

Main Results:

• Sleep locus of control significantly mediated the effect of cCBT on insomnia severity at follow-up.
• cCBT led to a greater enhancement of internal sleep locus of control compared to waiting list or in-person CBT groups.
• Improvements in SLOC were associated with reduced insomnia severity.

Conclusions:

• Sleep locus of control is a key factor in the efficacy of cCBT for chronic insomnia.
• Internet-based insomnia interventions may benefit from targeting interventions to enhance internal sleep locus of control.
• Assessing SLOC is important for tailoring and optimizing digital mental health treatments for sleep disorders.