Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: April 26, 2024
Telehealth cognitive behavior therapy for co-occurring insomnia and depression symptoms in older adults
Kenneth L Lichstein1, Forrest Scogin, S Justin Thomas
1The University of Alabama.
Objective:
Telehealth has proven effective with a wide range of disorders, but there is a paucity of data on the use of telehealth using cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) with late-life insomnia and depression. This pilot study was designed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of using telehealth to treat older adults with comorbid insomnia and depression living in rural Alabama.
Method:
Five patients received 10 sessions of CBT for insomnia and depression. Patients were engaged in treatment via Skype from their primary care physician's office. Assessments were conducted at baseline, posttreatment, and 2-month follow-up.
Results:
Patients exhibited clinically significant improvement in both insomnia (sleep diaries and Insomnia Severity Index) and depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) at posttreatment, and these gains were well maintained at 2-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
These preliminary data suggest that telehealth may be an effective means of providing treatment to older adults, including underserved populations.
Related Concept Videos
Management of Insomnia
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Electroconvulsive Therapy