Cognitive behavior therapy for chronic insomnia in occupational health services

The aim of this study was to examine the implementation and effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group intervention model for chronic insomnia (CBT-I) in occupational health services (OHS). We also studied if insomnia symptoms and intervention effects differed on work days and days off.

The study design was a non-randomized group intervention, including a waiting period prior to CBT as a control condition. We followed up the results for a period of 6 months. Outcomes were assessed using a sleep diary, questionnaires, and actigraphy. The CBT-I groups were led by trained OHS nurses.

A total of 26 participants completed the study. The intervention improved significantly participants' different self-reported sleep variables, perceived severity of insomnia, sleep-related dysfunctional cognitions, and psychiatric and somatic symptoms. The effects lasted, and partly increased during the follow-up. The participants generally slept significantly better on days off than on work days, but the treatment improved sleep on both.

The study showed that a non-pharmacological treatment of insomnia can be implemented into OHS with a reasonable amount of effort and that the treatment delivered by trained OHS nurses yields promising results. These findings, however, need to be interpreted cautiously, due to the non-randomized design and small sample size.