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Don't worry, be constructive: a randomized controlled feasibility study comparing behaviour therapy singly and
Markus Jansson-Fröjmark1, Marcus Lind, Rikard Sunnhed
1Center for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. markus.jansson@oru.se
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|May 12, 2012
Summary
Adding constructive worry (CW) to behaviour therapy (BT) significantly improved insomnia severity and reduced worry more than BT alone. This approach may offer enhanced relief for individuals with insomnia.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Intrusive and worrisome thinking significantly impacts insomnia.
- Limited research exists on interventions targeting these thought patterns for insomnia treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a constructive worry (CW) intervention enhances the effects of behavior therapy (BT) for primary insomnia.
- To compare the efficacy of BT alone versus BT combined with CW.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial with 22 primary insomnia patients.
- Intervention included a 4-week phase of sleep restriction and stimulus control (BT) with or without constructive worry (BT + CW).
- Outcomes measured included subjective sleep estimates, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Anxiety and Preoccupation about Sleep Questionnaire (APSQ).
Main Results:
- Both BT and BT + CW improved subjective sleep estimates, insomnia severity, worry, and dysfunction.
- BT + CW demonstrated significantly greater reductions in insomnia severity and worry compared to BT alone.
- Higher response rates were observed in the BT + CW group (80-100%) versus the BT group (18-27%).
Conclusions:
- Constructive worry (CW) may provide additional benefits for insomnia severity and worry when combined with behavior therapy (BT).
- Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up is recommended to confirm these findings.
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