[Does a short telemedicine-based CBT programme for insomnia lead to changes in dysfunctional beliefs about sleep?]

The Morphee Sleep network runs a short group CBT programme. During the pandemic, the programme was administered by videoconference. The programme focuses on behavioral modification. The objective of our study was to evaluate whether the videoconference programme produced changes in dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and whether these changes were linked to improvements in insomnia.

Observational study of 3×90minute sessions of group CBT by videoconference over one month delivered by experienced psychologists. The outcome measures : insomnia severity scale (ISI), dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep short version (DBAS 16), hospital anxiety and depression scale (subscales depression HADD and anxiety HADA), and epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) completed before session 1 and at the end of session 3. The effectiveness of the programme on insomnia was evaluated by the decrease in the ISI score : full response R+ (>7 points), partial response, R- (4 - 6 points) non response, NR (<3 points). The effect on dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep were measured by the decrease in the DBAS 16 with response CR (>9 points) and no response CNR (<9 points).

There were fifty-five participants, 64 % women with a mean age of 49.1±16.1 years. The DBAS 16 was reduced by 6.12±1.29 to 5.09±1.57 (P< 0.0001) with 67 % of participants showing a response CR. The ISI score reduced from 17.7±3.6 to 14.0±4.9 (P< 0.0001) with 49 % showing at least a partial response (R+ and R-). A significant correlation (0.327, P=0.015) between the CBT response and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep was observed with a significant reduction in the DBAS 16 between responders R+ and non-responders (R+ vs. NR 1.67±1.3 vs. 0.57±1.28 P=0.012). Seventy-nine of R+ showed improvements in the DBAS 16 vs. 69 % of R- and 61 % of non-responders NR.

A short group CBT programme by videoconference focused on behavioral modification can reduce dysfunctional beliefs about sleep.