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Treating Acute Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a "Single-Shot" of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for

Jason G Ellis1,2, Toby Cushing1, Anne Germain3

  • 1Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK.

Sleep
|December 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

A single session of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) effectively treated acute insomnia in adults. This brief intervention significantly reduced insomnia severity and improved remission rates compared to a wait list control.

Area of Science:

  • Sleep Medicine
  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is evidence-based for chronic insomnia.
  • Its efficacy for acute insomnia remains largely untested.
  • Early intervention for acute insomnia is crucial for preventing chronicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the efficacy of a single session of CBT-I for acute insomnia.
  • To assess the impact of a brief CBT-I intervention with a self-help pamphlet.

Main Methods:

  • Pragmatic parallel group randomized controlled trial.
  • Forty adults with acute insomnia (duration < 3 months) were randomized.
  • Intervention group received one CBT-I session plus a pamphlet; control group was wait-listed.

Main Results:

  • The CBT-I group showed significantly lower Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores post-treatment.
  • 60% of the CBT-I group achieved remission (ISI score < 10) at 1 month, versus 15% in the control group.
  • No baseline differences in sleep severity were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • A single session of CBT-I is effective for a significant proportion of individuals with acute insomnia.
  • This brief CBT-I approach can be integrated into stepped care models for insomnia management.
Abstract

Keywords:
CBT-Iacute insomniabrief interventionshort-term insomniastepped caretreatment

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