A randomized controlled trial of an internet intervention for adults with insomnia: effects on comorbid psychological and fatigue symptoms

Abstract

Objective: Insomnia is frequently comorbid with other medical and psychological disorders. This secondary data analysis investigated whether an Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) intervention could also reduce comorbid psychological and fatigue symptoms.

Method: Data from a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing the efficacy of Internet-delivered CBT-I relative to a waitlist control was used to examine changes in symptoms of depression, anxiety, mental health quality of life (QOL), and fatigue.

Results: Group by time interactions from repeated measures analyses revealed significant post intervention improvements in Internet participants (n = 22) relative to control participants (n = 22) on all psychological symptoms, mental health QOL, and fatigue. A small post hoc subsample of Internet participants with mild or moderate depression also showed large effect size changes in these constructs (depression, anxiety, mental health QOL, and fatigue).

Conclusion: Internet-delivered CBT-I appears to not only improve sleep but also reduce comorbid psychological and fatigue symptoms.

Keywords: CBT; CBT-I; Internet; anxiety; cognitive behavioral therapy; depression; eHealth; fatigue; insomnia; online; web.

© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Study enrollment flow.