Dados do Trabalho

Título

EFFECTS OF 4 WEEKS OF ONLINE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR INSOMNIA – PRELIMINARY RESULTS USING THE SLEEPUP PLATFORM

Introdução

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the gold-standard therapeutic approach for insomnia, but its availability is limited due the reduced number of specialized sleep psychologists and to high treatment costs. Digital CBTi (CBTi-D) is a more affordable, more accessible and reasonably effective treatment. The first Brazilian CBTi applications and platforms have been made available in 2021, but their efficacy are still under evaluation.

Objetivo

To describe the short-term effects of CBTi-D in a convenience sample of SleepUp platform users.

Métodos

SleepUp is a digital therapeutics platform for insomnia, based on CBTi-D. In this study, a convenience sample of 1277 SleepUp users were considered. The results of treatment weeks 1 to 4 (W1-W4) were analyzed, period in which the participants had access to four CBTi modules (psychoeducation, relaxation training, sleep hygiene and stimulus control), answered the Insomnia Severity Index weekly and filled a daily sleep log.

Resultados

The app registered 1253 users in W1, 97 in W2, 60 in W3 and 30 in W4. As this is a “real-life” sample, most of the users in W1 downloaded the application with no therapeutic intentions. From week 2 to 4, the adherence rate was of 30.9%. Total sleep time increased from 6h38 in W1 to 6h44 in W2, 6h52 in W3 and 07h11 in W4; with an average increase of 33min. Sleep efficiency increased from 75% in W1 to 79% in W2, 80% in W3 and 85% in W4. Insomnia score decreased from 18 in W1 to 16 in W2, 17 in W3 and 13 in W4.

Conclusões

The general framework is that CBTi-D is subjected to a lower adherence rate but equivalent efficacy, when compared to standard CBTi. Similar results were observed in this study, even considering this is a shortened CBTi intervention (only 4 weeks of treatment). Adherence rate from W2 to W4 was considered satisfactory. The effects on important insomnia-related parameters attest the efficacy of the treatment. Total sleep time increased in about half hour at W4, reaching the recommended sleep time according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Sleep efficiency reached the normal range at W3 and increased to 85% at W4. Average insomnia symptoms decreased from moderate to subthreshold insomnia category. These results are preliminary and further analyses on the efficacy of SleepUp’s CBTi-D platform should be performed, including a bigger sample, full CBTi program (8 weeks) and proper control groups.

Palavras-chave

CBTi; Medical app; Sleep; Software