Can Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBT) Help Insomnia?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

CBT-I is a highly effective treatment for insomnia, providing significant improvements in sleep parameters and related symptoms. It is cost-effective and beneficial for both primary insomnia and insomnia comorbid with other conditions. Digital and self-help formats of CBT-I expand its accessibility, making it a practical option for many patients. The therapy’s benefits are sustained over the long term, although the magnitude of improvement may decrease over time. Overall, CBT-I is a robust and versatile intervention for managing insomnia.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a non-pharmacological treatment designed to address the underlying cognitive and behavioral factors contributing to insomnia. This synthesis examines the effectiveness of CBT-I in improving sleep outcomes and related health parameters.

Key Insights

• Effectiveness of CBT-I on Insomnia Symptoms:
  • CBT-I significantly improves sleep parameters such as sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and wake after sleep onset, with effects lasting up to a year post-treatment2 4 7 8.
  • Digital CBT-I (dCBT-I) also shows significant improvements in insomnia severity, with sustained benefits at short-term and 1-year follow-ups5.
• Cost-Effectiveness:
  • CBT-I is cost-effective compared to pharmacotherapy or no treatment, although more studies with longer time horizons are needed to confirm sustained cost benefits1.
• Self-Help and Digital CBT-I:
  • Self-help CBT-I is effective in improving sleep and related symptoms, with similar dropout rates to therapist-administered CBT-I. Telephone consultations can enhance its benefits3.
  • Digital CBT-I (dCBT-I) is effective and can increase accessibility to CBT-I, making it a viable alternative to face-to-face therapy5.
• Impact on Comorbid Conditions:
  • CBT-I is effective for patients with insomnia comorbid with psychiatric and medical conditions, showing medium to large improvements in sleep parameters and small to medium improvements in comorbid symptoms4 7 8.
  • For patients with chronic pain, CBT-I improves sleep and depressive symptoms, though its effects on pain and anxiety are less pronounced7.
• Long-Term Effects:
  • The long-term effects of CBT-I are sustained, though the magnitude of improvement may decline over time. However, clinically significant benefits are observed up to a year post-treatment2 6.
• Reduction in Dysfunctional Beliefs:
  • CBT-I significantly reduces dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, a core cognitive component of the therapy, contributing to its effectiveness6.

Can cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) help insomnia?

Jason Ellis has answered Near Certain

An expert from University of Northumbria in Sleep Research

CBT-I is designed for individuals with insomnia and is successful in about 70-80% of cases. By success we generally say that they no longer meet criteria for having insomnia on completion of treatment. If we look at statistical significance in terms of reductions in symptoms (i.e. how long it takes someone to get off to sleep or how long they are awake in the night) then CBT-I is very helpful, with at least 50% reductions in these symptoms. What makes someone benefit less CBT-I, well we are not entirely sure yet, but we know that if you have had it since childhood you are unlikely to get as much benefit. Other things to consider in regards to its efficacy and effectiveness are how the CBT-I is delivered (face to face, group, self help, online) and the therapist.

Can cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) help insomnia?

David Cunnington has answered Near Certain

An expert from Melbourne Sleep Disorders Centre in Sleep Research

There are a number of meta-analyses, including our own (Trauer et al. Ann Int Med 2015; 163: 191-204) which have shown that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for insomnia is an effective treatment. That doesn’t mean everyone responds, as for some people there are factors about their insomnia which may mean they get a modest response to CBT. However, most people will respond (get a significant reduction in symptoms) to CBT and a significant proportion of people with have remission (resolution of symptoms), so it’s important that people presenting with chronic insomnia receive CBT treatment.

Can cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) help insomnia?

Hrayr Attarian has answered Near Certain

An expert from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Sleep Research

CBT-I consolidates sleep as well if not better than sedative hypnotics. In people under 65 it also increases sleep duration.

Can cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) help insomnia?

Meena Khan has answered Near Certain

An expert from Ohio State University in Sleep Research

Absolutely. In fact there is a form of CBT called CBTi that is a set of behavioural and cognitive strategies specifically used for the treatment of insomnia. Studies support that CBTi is superior to medication for the long term treatment of insomnia.