Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Anonymous online cognitive behavioral therapy for sleep disorders in shift workers-a study protocol for a randomized
Lukas Retzer1,2, Monika Feil3, Richard Reindl3
1Faculty for Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg Georg-Simon-Ohm, Nuremberg, Germany. lukas.retzer@th-nuernberg.de.
Shift workers with insomnia can now access an online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) program, offering a flexible treatment option. This study compares its effectiveness against a waitlist control and face-to-face CBT-I.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Digital Health
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Shift work is associated with significant sleep disturbances affecting quality of life and performance.
- Structured, evidence-based interventions for shift worker sleep issues are limited.
- An anonymous online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) program was developed to address this gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an online CBT-I program for shift workers.
- To compare the online CBT-I program against a waiting-list control group.
- To compare the online CBT-I program with standard face-to-face CBT-I.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized, controlled superiority trial involving at least 60 shift workers.
- Participants were randomized to an online CBT-I intervention group or a waiting-list control group.
- Outcomes included self-reported depression, insomnia symptoms, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, with a comparison to face-to-face CBT-I.
Main Results:
- The online CBT-I intervention is expected to show beneficial effects compared to the control group.
- Both online and face-to-face CBT-I are anticipated to improve primary outcomes.
- Data collection includes weekly sleep diaries and post-intervention assessments.
Conclusions:
- The online CBT-I program provides a flexible and accessible treatment for shift workers, irrespective of their work schedule or location.
- This intervention has the potential to enhance the prevention and treatment of sleep problems in shift workers.
- Further research will elucidate the full impact on shift worker sleep health.
More Related Videos
08:36Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
06:23A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice
Published on: September 22, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Management of Insomnia
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Blind Procedures
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...