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Low-intensity Cognitive-behavioural Therapy for Insomnia

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare the Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workshop, Sleep Hygiene Education Workshop and Self-Help Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Adults With Sleep Impairment in Hong Kong

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03736694
Enrollment
210
Registered
2018-11-09
Start date
2018-09-01
Completion date
2019-07-31
Last updated
2020-03-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Insomnia

Keywords

Insomnia, Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, Sleep hygiene education

Brief summary

A randomized controlled trial is proposed to compare the effectiveness of workshop-based and self-Help cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI), and sleep hygiene education (SHE) to treat insomnia in Hong Kong adolescent and adult patients, in terms of alleviation of insomnia severity, reduction in associated insomnia symptoms/ complications, and enhancement in quality of life. Insomnia is prevalent in Hong Kong and can cause severe impacts on patients and society, but there is a dearth of related research in the local population. Therefore, it is significant to conduct this study. A total of 210 participants aged \> 18 with insomnia will be recruited and randomized into 3 groups to receive one of the 3 treatments. Outcomes will be measured using relevant questionnaires filled in at the baseline, 6 and 12 weeks afterwards. The results obtained will be compared within each group and among the 3 groups using statistical testing to determine the most effective treatment option for insomnia.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALSleep hygiene education

SHE, is commonly provided verbally or through leaflets during consultations (Espie, 2009), and is also included as a part of CBTI (Morin, Savard, Ouellet, & Daley, 2003).

CBTI involves habitual, belief and attitude alterations so as to eliminate factors preventing sleep (Morin, Savard, Ouellet, & Daley, 2003). It is recommended by the American College of Physicians as the first-line therapy for insomnia (Qaseem, Kansagara, Forciea, Cooke, & Denberg, 2016). CBTI workshops are a relatively novel and emerging way of delivery which involves a greater number of patients than group CBTI, increases availability and accessibility by concentrating the content into half or whole day and taking place in the community settings, and reduces diagnostic labeling and cost (Bonin, Beecham, Swift, Raikundalia, & Brown, 2014; Swift, Stewart, Andiappan, Smith, Espie, & Brown, 2012). Self-help CBTI involves independent learning of the provided materials via the Internet, video or audio recording, books and pamphlets (Bruin, Bogels, Oort, & Meijer, 2015).

Sponsors

The University of Hong Kong
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

After recruitment and assessment for inclusion and exclusion criteria, the participants are randomly assigned with numbers generated by computer and divided equally into 3 groups managed by an independent administrator. The participants are required to fill in online questionnaires themselves to prevent possible biases during outcome assessments. The participants will be labelled by numbers without any personal information or intervention group allocated during data analysis.

Intervention model description

A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be performed to compare the effectiveness of the 3 types of therapies. After recruitment and assessment for inclusion and exclusion criteria, the participants are randomly assigned with numbers generated by computer and divided equally into 3 groups managed by an independent administrator. The first intervention group (Group 1) will attend one half-day cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTI) workshop in the community setting. The second intervention group (Group 2) will receive self-help CBTI. The control group (Group 3) will receive sleep hygiene education (SHE).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Hong Kong residents * Aged 16 or above * Satisfy the DSM-5 criteria for insomnia, i.e. inability to fall or keep asleep, or wake up too early for 3 days or more per week, throughout a minimum period of 1 month (instead of 3 months in the diagnostic criteria D) using the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire. This is to include episodic insomnia which is considered as an 'other specified insomnia disorder' in DSM-5. * Score at least 10 points in Insomnia Severity Index * Able to read and understand Cantonese * Have Internet access

Exclusion criteria

* Suffer from recently diagnosed and untreated medical, psychiatric or sleep disorders that likely contribute to the onset and maintenance of insomnia, e.g. major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, chronic pain. * Currently receiving CBTI or SHE * Work on irregular rotational shift

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Insomnia severityBaseline assessment (Week 0); Short-term follow-up (Week 8); Long-term follow-up (Week 16)To identify whether CBTI workshop, self-help CBTI or SHE workshop results in the greatest alleviation of insomnia severity using the Insomnia Severity Index, which allows the patients to rate their perceived severity and satisfaction level towards their current conditions (Arnedt, Cuddihy & Swanson, et al, 2014; Wong, Zhang & Li, et al, 2017).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Symptoms of Mood disordersBaseline assessment (Week 0); Short-term follow-up (Week 8); Long-term follow-up (Week 16)To identify which of the 3 therapies brings the largest reduction mood disorders through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Change in Quality of lifeBaseline assessment (Week 0); Short-term follow-up (Week 8); Long-term follow-up (Week 16)To investigate which of the 3 therapies improves the quality of life of patients to the greatest extent using the Short-Form Six-Dimension Health Survey.

Countries

Hong Kong

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026