Abstract
BackgroundAttentional bias toward sleep-related information is believed to play a key role in insomnia. If attentional bias is indeed of importance, changing this bias should then in turn have effects on insomnia complaints. In this double-blind placebo controlled randomized trial we investigated the efficacy of attentional bias modification training in the treatment of insomnia.MethodWe administered baseline, post-test, and one-week follow-up measurements of insomnia severity, sleep-related worry, depression, and anxiety. Participants meeting DSM-5 criteria for insomnia were randomized into an attentional bias training group (n = 67) or a placebo training group (n = 70). Both groups received eight training sessions over the course of two weeks. All participants kept a sleep diary for four consecutive weeks (one week before until one week after the training sessions).ResultsThere was no additional benefit for the attentional bias training over the placebo training on sleep-related indices/outcome measures.ConclusionsThe absence of the effect may be explained by the fact that there was neither attentional bias at baseline nor any reduction in the bias after the training. Either way, this study gives no support for attentional bias modification training as a stand-alone intervention for ameliorating insomnia complaints.
Highlights
Insomnia is a prevalent disorder that affects about 10% of the general population [1]
The absence of the effect may be explained by the fact that there was neither attentional bias at baseline nor any reduction in the bias after the training
This study gives no support for attentional bias modification training as a stand-alone intervention for ameliorating insomnia complaints
Summary
Insomnia is a prevalent disorder that affects about 10% of the general population [1]. In the DSM-5, chronic insomnia is described as problems with initiating and/or staying asleep for at least three days a week for three or more months. These sleep problems need to have a negative effect on daytime functioning [2]. Insomnia disorder is associated with a twofold chance of developing a major depression disorder in later life [6]. Apart from these psychological correlates, insomnia is associated with somatic problems such as cardiovascular diseases [7]. In this double-blind placebo controlled randomized trial we investigated the efficacy of attentional bias modification training in the treatment of insomnia
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