Effects of an Internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment for insomnia: preliminary results

Objectives: Insomnia is one of the most prevalent health complaint with significant health and psychological consequences and recent studies have shown that it is a risk factor for other psychiatric disorders (Baglioni et al., 2011). Despite Cognitive-Behaviour Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) is one of the most effective treatment for insomnia, its availability is limited. The Internet could represent a key conduit for delivering this intervention and increase its availability. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an Internet based CBT-I on ameliorating self-reported symptoms and emotional states. Methods: Until now, 10 patients (8 female and 2 male; mean age: 32, 30; SD: 9.02), with an insomnia diagnose according to DSM-IV criteria were assigned to either a CBT-I (TR: 5 patients) or a waitinglist (WL: five patients). Sleep parameters and positive and negative emotional states were measured through sleep diaries filled in during the week preceding the treatment and the week following the end of the treatment were compared. Results: Preliminary results showed that the CBT-I group at posttreatment showed reduced sleep-onset latency (SOL) and wakeafter-sleep onset (WASO), and increased sleep-efficacy index (SEI) both as compared to the WL group and as compared to the pretreatment. Moreover, the group that received the treatment at post-treatment report reduced negative emotions in the morning as compared to both the WL group and the pre-treatment. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that internet-delivered CBT-I is effective on both nocturnal (sleep parameters) and daytime (negative emotions) symptoms of insomnia.