Treatment Of Insomnia Symptoms Research Articles

Viability of an Early Sleep Intervention to Mitigate Poor Sleep and Improve Well-being in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic increases in the prevalence and severity of insomnia symptoms. These increases in insomnia complaints have been paralleled by significant decreases in well-being, including increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality and decreased quality of life. However, the efficacy and impact of early treatment of insomnia symptoms on future sleep and well-being remain unknown.ObjectiveHere, we present the framework and protocol for a novel feasibility, pilot study that aims to investigate whether a brief telehealth insomnia intervention targeting new insomnia that developed during the pandemic prevents deterioration of well-being, including symptoms of insomnia, depression, anxiety, suicidality, and quality of life.MethodsThe protocol details a 2-arm randomized controlled feasibility trial to investigate the efficacy of a brief, telehealth-delivered, early treatment of insomnia and evaluate its potential to prevent deterioration of well-being. Participants with clinically significant insomnia symptoms that began during the pandemic were randomized to either a treatment group or a 28-week waitlist control group. Treatment consists of 4 telehealth sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) delivered over 5 weeks. All participants will complete assessments of insomnia symptom severity, well-being, and daily habits checklist at baseline (week 0) and at weeks 1-6, 12, 28, and 56.ResultsThe trial began enrollment on June 3, 2020 and closed enrollment on June 17, 2021. As of October 2021, 49 participants had been randomized to either immediate treatment or a 28-week waitlist; 23 participants were still active in the protocol.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this protocol would represent the first study to test an early sleep intervention for improving insomnia that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this feasibility study could provide information about the utility of CBT-I for symptoms that emerge in the context of other stressors before they develop a chronic course and deepen understanding of the relationship between sleep and well-being.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04409743; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04409743International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/34409

Assistive Relaxation Therapy for Older Adults With Insomnia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Insomnia symptoms are prevalent in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and can pose treatment challenges. Our objective was to test the preliminary efficacy of tablet-based assistive relaxation therapy (ART) to improve insomnia symptoms in community-dwelling older adults with MCI. ART involves breath-based relaxation techniques coupled with a physical anchoring task to redirect thoughts and disengage from pre-sleep anxiety-provoking cognitions. Using a pilot randomized controlled non-crossover design, 20 participants recruited from one urban adult day center were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or education only control group for a treatment period of two weeks. Our final sample (n=20) was balanced on all demographic and clinical variables and consisted of Black (100%), female (75%), older adults (mean age 68.85 ± 7.29) with mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores of 21.2 ± 2.48. All participants at baseline had insomnia symptoms (mean Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score 15.8 ± 3.78) and poor sleep quality (mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score 12.95 ± 0.70); half had daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score 10.15 ± 1.07). Compared to baseline, participants improved on ISI (9.83 ± 1.32; p=0.0002), PSQI (9.11 ± 1.02; p=0.0016) and ESS (8.17 ± 0.86; p=0.08). The intervention group had statistically significant mean change scores on ISI compared to the control (-7.5 ± 1.37 vs. -3.88 ± 1.48; p=.0461). There were no statistically significant between group differences on PSQI or ESS. Our preliminary results suggest ART therapy is an effective treatment for insomnia symptoms in older adults with MCI.

Insomnia in the elderly: reported reasons and their associations with medication in general practice in Denmark

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate reasons for insomnia symptoms and their associations with sleep medication prescription in elderly patients in general practice.Design: Over a period of 20 weekdays, general practitioners (GPs) recorded reasons and treatment for insomnia symptoms. Patient characteristics and outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between reasons for insomnia symptoms and prescription.Setting: General practices in the Region of Southern Denmark.Subjects: Consultations (n = 405) with patients older than 65 years presenting with insomnia symptoms.Main outcome measures: Reasons for insomnia symptoms and sleep medication prescription.Results: The most commonly reported reasons for insomnia symptoms were somatic illness (34%) and psychiatric diagnosis (29%). Having a psychiatric diagnosis or multiple reported reasons for insomnia increased the odds for prescription (odds ratio (OR) 4.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.41-9.90 and OR 2.10, CI 1.03-4.28), whereas being first consultation regarding insomnia symptoms decreased the odds (OR 0.17, CI 0.10-0.30). A total of 80% received a prescription, most frequently of Z-hypnotics (49%). About half (52%) of the patients consulting their GP for the first time with insomnia symptoms received a prescription.Conclusion: Somatic and psychiatric diseases were the most commonly reported reasons for insomnia symptoms in the elderly, suggesting a high prevalence of comorbid insomnia. Regardless of reason, a majority of the consultations resulted in prescription of sleep medication with potential serious adverse effects. This indicates that there is still room for improving the management of insomnia among older adults. Key PointsAlthough insomnia is common in the elderly, little is known about its reasons and their associations with prescription patterns. The most commonly reported reasons for insomnia symptoms in the elderly are psychiatric diagnosis and somatic illness. According to guidelines, sleep medication with potential serious adverse effects is prescribed too frequently to elderly patients. An effort should be made to identify and optimally treat comorbid insomnia, which appears to be prevalent in older adults.

Pharmacological Treatment of Insomnia Symptoms in Individuals with Substance Use Disorders in Spain: A Quasi-Experimental Study

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Pharmacological treatment of insomnia in patients with addictions has been hardly investigated and there are few researches about it in an inpatient detoxification. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of the pharmacological treatment of insomnia in SUD patients admitted to a detoxification unit in Spain, with a focus on the primary substance of abuse and co-occurring mental disorders. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 481 addicted in patients, who were admitted for substances detoxification in Vall d´Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, from 2010 to 2015. The patients underwent systematic evaluation of axes I and II psychiatric disorders (SCID-I, SCID-II, and CAADID). Insomnia was evaluated using a night time sleep log. Substance-dependent patients, who had insomnia during hospital detoxification, received a psychotropic medication with hypnotic effect, keeping the regular clinical practice without randomization. Results: At discharge, insomnia was considered to have been alleviated in 63.8% (n = 204) of patients while 36.2% (n = 116) of patients remained with insomnia disturbances. Comparing hypnotic treatments it was observed that mirtazapine and clotiapine were the treatment that corrected the insomnia more frequently. Discussion: Since insomnia is not corrected in all patients, it should be further investigated in medications with hypnotic purpose. Based on the results of this work, randomized clinical trials might be proposed.

Insomnia as a predictor of job exit among middle-aged and older adults: results from the Health and Retirement Study

ObjectivesPoor health is a recognised predictor of workforce exit, but little is known about the role of insomnia in workforce exit. We examined the association between insomnia symptoms and subsequent...

Relationship between insomnia symptoms, perceived stress and coping strategies in subjects with arterial hypertension: psychological factors may play a modulating role

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate perceived stress and coping strategies in people with hypertension, according to the presence of insomnia symptoms and by using a set of variables that included anxiety and depressive symptoms evaluation. MethodsA total of 371 hypertensive patients were enrolled during their first visit to the Hypertension Outpatient Unit. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Brief-COPE, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered. Patients with other sleep disorders or with incomplete data (n = 41) were excluded. ResultsData from 330 hypertensive patients were analyzed (males 51%, mean age 57 ± 13 years). Those with insomnia symptoms (n = 70, 21%) were older (p = 0.02), more frequently females (p = 0.01), and presented with higher PSS (p < 0.001), BDI (p < 0.0001), SAS (p = 0.0003), and STAI (p < 0.0001) scores than those without insomnia symptoms. In a linear regression trait, anxiety (p < 0.0001) and depressive symptoms (p < 0.05) were independent predictors of high PSS. Patients with insomnia symptoms showed lower scores in coping strategies, such as positive reframing (p = 0.03) and emotional support (p = 0.04), and an increased score in behavioral disengagement (p = 0.03). Trait anxiety and insomnia severity were independent predictors of less effective coping strategies. ConclusionsPeople with hypertension and insomnia symptoms showed higher perceived stress and less effective coping strategies than non-insomniacs; psychological factors such as trait anxiety and depressive symptoms may play a modulating role in these relationships. Prevention and treatment of insomnia symptoms and psychological factors should receive high attention for people with hypertension.

Clinical application of antidepressants in the treatment of insomnia symptoms

Insomnia is one of the common complaints among all clinical departments. In recent years, some studies have demonstrated that insomnia symptoms can be improved or treated by some antidepressants. Based on literature search both at home and abroad, this paper summarized the effect of various antidepressants with different pharmacological properties on sleep, and the progress of clinical application of antidepressants in treating insomnia according to the classification of antidepressant drugs. doi：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2013.11.012

Longitudinal Course and Impact of Insomnia Symptoms in Adolescents With and Without Chronic Pain

This study aimed to 1) examine trajectories of insomnia symptoms in adolescents with chronic pain compared to their healthy peers; 2) evaluate psychological and behavioral risk factors for longitudinal insomnia symptoms; and 3) evaluate insomnia as a predictor of quality of life, activity limitations, and healthcare utilization over 12 months. Participants included 61 adolescents with chronic pain and 60 youths without chronic pain (12–18 years; 72% female). Questionnaires were completed at enrollment, 6 months, and 12 months and assessed pain intensity, insomnia symptoms, sleep hygiene, presleep arousal, depression, pubertal status, activity limitations, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. Insomnia symptoms persisted for both groups and remained higher at all time points for youths with chronic pain. Generalized estimating equations modeling identified 3 risk factors for longitudinal insomnia symptoms: having chronic pain, poorer sleep hygiene, and higher depressive symptoms. Insomnia symptoms also predicted poorer quality of life over time and were associated with more frequent healthcare utilization. Findings suggest that sleep problems are persistent and associated with negative impact for youths with chronic pain. Treatment of insomnia symptoms in youths with chronic pain may lead to improvements in quality of life and reductions in healthcare costs. PerspectiveInsomnia symptoms are persistent over a 12-month period and are associated with negative impact for youths with chronic pain. These findings suggest that treatment of insomnia symptoms in youths with chronic pain may lead to improvements in quality of life and reductions in healthcare costs.

Sedative antidepressants and insomnia

The present review addresses the relationship between sleep and depression and how serotonergic transmission is implicated in both conditions. Literature searches were performed in the PubMed and MedLine databases up to March 2010. The terms searched were "insomnia", "depression", "sedative antidepressants" and "serotonin". In order to pinpoint the sedative antidepressants most used to treat insomnia, 34 ISI articles, mainly reviews and placebo-controlled clinical trials, were selected from 317 articles found in our primary search. Sleep problems may appear months before the diagnosis of clinical depression and persist after the resolution of depression. Treatment of insomnia symptoms may improve this comorbid disease. Some antidepressant drugs can also result in insomnia or daytime sleepiness. Serotonin (5-HT) demonstrates a complex pattern with respect to sleep and wakefulness that is related to the array of 5-HT receptor subtypes involved in different physiological functions. It is now believed that 5HT2 receptor stimulation is subjacent to insomnia and changes in sleep organization related to the use of some antidepressants. Some drugs commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression may worsen insomnia and impair full recovery from depression. 5-HT2 receptor antagonists are promising drugs for treatment strategies since they can improve comorbid insomnia and depression.