According to a recent study published in the Journal of Sleep Research community-based, Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) workshops can be effective and accessible for participants suffering from symptoms of insomnia. Although insomnia is highly prevalent, individuals seek help infrequently and accessibility of treatment is often limited. The current study examined the effectiveness of large scale, one-day CBT-I workshops. These workshops were advertised and open to the public. Those who participated (n=151) were randomly assigned to either attend an experimental workshop and follow up sessions immediately (n=75), or to the waitlist control group (n=76).
The CBT-I workshops were significantly effective in reducing insomnia symptoms among participants at a 3-month follow-up. According to ratings on the insomnia severity index, symptoms reduced 17.6% in the experimental group, but only 3.5% in the control group. Participants also completed sleep diaries which support these results. The workshops proved to be accessible to the public, as 50% of participants had never sought help in the past. Further, they were rated as “very high” in satisfaction, with 90% of participants feeling “mostly or completely satisfied.”
This study indicates that treatment for insomnia can be delivered quickly and effectively within a large group (about 30 participants at one time). Further, CBT-I workshops designed for the public may increase the accessibility of effective treatment for individuals who might not otherwise seek help.
Swift, N., Stewart, R., Andiappan, M., Smith, A., Espie, C.A., & Brown, J.S.L. (2012) The effectiveness of community day-long CBT-I workshops for participants with insomnia symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sleep Research, 21, 270-280.