Three-Year Follow-Up Comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, for Patients With Both Diagnoses

Sleep. 2017 Aug 1;40(8). doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsx108.

Abstract

This 3-year follow-up compared insomnia treatment to depression treatment for patients with both diagnoses. Forty-three participants were randomized to either treatment, in the form of Internet-delivered therapist-guided cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and 37 (86%) participants provided primary outcome data at the 3-year follow-up. After 3 years, reductions on depression severity were similar in both groups (between-group effect size, d = 0.33, p = .45), while the insomnia treatment had superior effects on insomnia severity (d = 0.66, p < .05). Overall, insomnia treatment was thus more beneficial than depression treatment. The implication for practitioners, supported by previous research, is that patients with co-occurring depression and insomnia should be offered CBT for insomnia, in addition to medication or psychological treatment for depression.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01256099.

Keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy; Depression; Insomnia; Insomnia–comorbid; Long-term follow-up.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Depression / therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / psychology*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01256099