Non-pharmacological treatment of sleep problems in primary care

Non-pharmacological treatment of sleep problems in primary care

Map of Norway

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the general population and in clinical practice. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered most effective for long-term alleviation of chronic insomnia, but its availability to patients is limited. Therefore, the Norwegian Health Directorate developed a group-delivered treatment based on core CBT-I principles. This study investigates the effectiveness of group-delivered CBT-I on insomnia severity among adults with insomnia symptoms. 

The study is conducted as a pragmatic, multicentre randomized controlled trial in the Norwegian primary care. 26 public, interdisciplinary primary care centers are participating in the data collection (see map). The group-delivered CBT-I treatment investigated in this study is an existing treatment option for adults with insomnia symptoms. Participants receiving group-delivered CBT-I (intervention group) are compared with those on a waiting list (control group) to investigate whether the intervention reduces insomnia severity. 315 participants are included in the trial.

There are six measurement timepoints in the study:  

  1. T1: baseline measurements after randomization and prior to intervention start 

  1. T2: immediately post-intervention (4-5 weeks after T1) 

  1. T3: 3 months post-intervention (primary outcome measurement) 

  1. T4: 6 months post-intervention 

  1. T5: 1-year post-intervention (registry data only) 

  1. T6: 2 years post-intervention (registry data only)  

Data collection is due to be completed in December 2023. This page will be updated with study results after analysis and publication. 

 

Trial resources:  

  • Study protocol: Hrozanova, M., Meisingset, I., Kallestad, H., Pallesen, S., Nordstoga, A. L., & Skarpsno, E. S. (2023). Group-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy versus waiting list in the treatment of insomnia in primary care: study protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre randomized controlled trial. BMC Primary Care, 24(1), 1-10. 

  • Trial registration: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16185698 

19 Sep 2023