Acceptability of behavioral treatments for insomnia

Behavioral treatments for insomnia are safe and efficacious but may not be embraced by patients in primary care. Understanding factors associated with acceptability can enhance successful use of these modalities. The objective of this study was to identify demographic and clinical/psychosocial correlates of behavioral insomnia treatment acceptability.

This nonexperimental, inventory-based, cross-sectional study enrolled patients from a hospital-sponsored primary care clinic and 2 urban academic family practices. Participants (n = 236) were 18 years of age or older who had clinically significant insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index score ≥ 8) and were recruited consecutively at these sites. A study coordinator obtained informed consent then distributed survey materials. Participants received a $10 honorarium. The main outcome measure was the Acceptability Insomnia Treatment Acceptability Scale-Behavioral subscale (ITAS-B).

Only acceptability of medications (r = 0.259) and dysfunctional beliefs (r = 0.234) scores had significant bivariate correlations with ITAS-B scores (P < .001). Medication acceptability, dysfunctional beliefs, and self-efficacy accounted for 12.45% of ITAS-B variance in linear regression.

Screening for dysfunctional beliefs about sleep may identify patients with interest in behavioral approaches. Improving self-efficacy for sleep may improve acceptance of behavioral insomnia therapies. Interest in behavioral and medication treatments are not mutually exclusive. However, the modest variance reported here suggests other factors impact acceptance of behavioral treatments.