One-Session Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia in Integrated Primary Care: A Preliminary Study.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Sleep Medicine
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Chronic insomnia is a prevalent condition in primary care settings.
• One-session cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a brief intervention suitable for primary care but lacks study in this context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of one-session CBT-I for clinically elevated insomnia symptoms within an integrated primary care clinic.
• To evaluate the impact of one-session CBT-I on insomnia symptoms, total wake time (TWT), and sleep efficiency (SE).

Main Methods:

• A preliminary study involving 37 adult patients with insomnia symptoms.
• Random assignment to either one-session CBT-I (n=17) or an active attentional control group (n=20).
• Outcomes measured at baseline, post-treatment, 1-month, and 3-month follow-ups.

Main Results:

• The CBT-I group showed significantly greater improvements in TWT and SE compared to the control group immediately post-treatment.
• These improvements in TWT and SE persisted at the 1-month follow-up for the CBT-I group.
• Participants receiving CBT-I reported significantly lower insomnia symptoms at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• One-session CBT-I demonstrates preliminary effectiveness in treating insomnia symptoms within a primary care setting.
• The intervention leads to sustained improvements in sleep efficiency and reduced insomnia severity.
• This approach holds promise for managing insomnia in the fast-paced primary care environment.