-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Michele Okun, Katherine A Johanson, Adrienne Bohlen, Leilani Felicano, 0386 Stimulus Control Therapy versus Sleep Hygiene Education in Older Adults with Insomnia, Sleep, Volume 42, Issue Supplement_1, April 2019, Pages A156–A157, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz067.385
Close - Share Icon Share
Abstract
Sleep problems are pervasive among the United States population with insomnia being the most common sleep complaint among adults and older adults. Between 20 and 40 percent of older adults have symptoms of insomnia, which impacts quality of life, inflates healthcare costs, and is associated with a greater risk of chronic disease, comorbid mood disorders, and premature mortality. While pharmacotherapy offers immediate relief from insomnia, it is associated with adverse side effects and risks. Behavioral interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), have longer-term benefits and fewer side effects. However, the full CBT-I protocol is resource intensive and can be difficult to access.
The present study examined the ability of a brief Internet-based sleep intervention, stimulus control therapy (SCT; N = 26), to effectively reduce symptoms of insomnia and improve mood in a sample of 46 adults aged 60 years and older compared to a sleep hygiene psychoeducation-only group (N = 20). Participants were recruited from community sources and completed telephone screens. Eligible participants watched a 20-minute video (SCT or sleep hygiene) online and completed three surveys across a one-month period (baseline, 1-week, and 1-month) about mood and sleep.
No significant group differences (p’s > .05) were observed. Interestingly, we observed decreases in both groups on sleepiness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep locus of control over time, as well as a group-time interaction for anxiety and stress. Among the SCT group, over 50% indicated adopting at least one of the recommended strategies. Among the control group, the most commonly reported strategy was limiting caffeine intake (60%) followed by 35% limiting alcohol.
Both sleep hygiene and SCT have equivalent efficacy and that minimal insomnia treatments may effectively treat comorbid insomnia and anxiety and depression in older adults. These data suggest that an online SCT intervention may be a sufficient first-line treatment option within the stepped care approach.
NA
- anxiety
- ethanol
- pharmacotherapy
- stimulus control
- caffeine
- fatigue
- adult
- chronic disease
- cognitive-behavioral therapy
- comorbidity
- health care costs
- internet
- mood disorder
- sleep disorders
- telephone
- quality of life
- sleep
- stress
- insomnia
- mood
- drowsiness
- mixed anxiety-depressive disorder
- psychoeducation
- older adult
- sleep hygiene
- community
- death, premature
- geriatric depression
- chief complaint
- collaborate with the individual to select and institute stepwise approach to eliminating symptoms
- behavioral health interventions
Comments