Cracking the Code to Better Sleep: A Pioneering Study on Remote Support for Insomnia Relief
Lay-guided Remotely Delivered Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-behavioural Therapy for Insomnia: Protocol for a Feasibility and Pilot Study
1 other identifier
interventional
30
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The goals of this clinical trial are to assess the feasibility of an internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Motivation Interviewing (MI) intervention for individuals aged 18 to 64 with mild to moderate insomnia, and/or mild anxiety/depression. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Can internet-based CBT-I effectively improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia symptoms?
- Can internet-based CBT-I effectively improve sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency (SOL), and wake after sleep onset (WASO)?
- Is CBT-I treatment feasible to carry out remotely? What are the percentages of participants who dropped out of the study?
- Is internet-based CBT-I financially feasible compared to the traditional CBT-I intervention? Eligible participants would be invited to participate in the research and randomised into two groups: Intervention and Waitlist Control. Both groups will have their baseline Insomnia Severity Index and Sleep Condition Indicator assessed prior to the main part of the research. Participants in the Intervention group will go through 4 CBT-I sessions over the course of 4 weeks. These sessions will be delivered online by trained lay-person coaches, supervised directly by an experienced coach specialising in CBT-I. The Intervention group will also keep a sleep diary. At the end of the intervention, the investigators will interview 10 individuals to learn more about their experiences during the study. Participants in the Waitlist Control Group will receive the same intervention after the end of the study. This group acts as a control for the Intervention group.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Feb 2024
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
November 29, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 18, 2024
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
February 24, 2024
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 27, 2024
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
March 20, 2025
CompletedJuly 2, 2025
June 1, 2025
9 months
November 29, 2023
June 30, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (6)
Enrollment rate
Number of people enrolled out of the number of people contacted. The higher percentage is the desirable outcome.
From the beginning of recruitment until the first week of intervention.
Eligibility rate
Number of people eligible out of the number of people enrolled. The higher percentage is the desired outcome.
From the beginning of recruitment until the first week of intervention.
Attrition
Number of individuals who dropped out (dropouts only). The study aims to achieve lower attrition rates.
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
The Insomnia Severity Index has seven questions. The seven answers are added up to get a total score. Total score categories are: 0-7 = No clinically significant insomnia 8-14 = Subthreshold insomnia 15-21 = Clinical insomnia (moderate severity) 22-28 = Clinical insomnia (severe). The questionnaire demonstrates positive test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and validity. Additionally, it is offered in three versions tailored for different perspectives: patient, clinician, and significant others (spouse). (Bastien et al., 2001; Morin et al., 2011)The lower scores signify milder insomnia. The study aims to achieve lowering in scores (baseline to post-intervention)
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Change in Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI)
The questionnaire employs an eight-item rating scale, generating a severity score ranging from 0 to 32, where a higher score corresponds to better sleep. A score of 16 or lower suggests probable insomnia. Notably, the questionnaire demonstrates commendable internal consistency and concurrent validity, as evidenced by correlations with the PSQI and ISI. Its effectiveness extends to the measurement of daytime functioning. Furthermore, the questionnaire is accessible in various languages, attesting to its robust linguistic validation (Espie, et al., 2014; Wong et al, 2017). The lower scores signify milder insomnia. The study aims to achieve lowering in scores (baseline to post-intervention)
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Adherence
Number of sleep diary entries and CBT-I sessions attended. The higher number is the desired outcome.
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Secondary Outcomes (6)
Change in waketime self-reported by participants in their sleep diaries.
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Change in Sleep Onset Latency (SOL) self-reported by participants in their sleep diaries.
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Change in Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO) self-reported by participants in their sleep diaries.
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Change in 'perceived sleep quality' self-reported by participants in their sleep diaries.
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
Change in bedtime self-reported by participants in their sleep diaries
From enrolment to post-intervention interview (5 weeks in total)
- +1 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (3)
Satisfaction with the intervention
Post-intervention (Week 5)
Perceived progress
Post-intervention (Week 5)
Perceived adherence to the intervention
Post-intervention (Week 5)
Study Arms (2)
Intervention Group
EXPERIMENTALThe intervention will be delivered remotely via zoom or google meets, guided by Overcome coaches. Coaches are trained over two days via training slides, role plays and feedback. The intervention includes CBT-I and Motivational Interviewing.
Waitlist Control Group (WLC/WLCG)
NO INTERVENTIONParticipants will receive the same benefits from the intervention after the end of the main study or after the last participant in the experimental group is interviewed at the post-intervention interview.
Interventions
This intervention implements elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia with motivational interview techniques incorporated into the intervention, aiming to build long-lasting motivation, better rapport with the patients and self-efficacy to increase engagement rate despite its remotely delivered format. The whole intervention is delivered online.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adults aged 18-64
- PHQ-9 score 0-12 indicates no depression, mild or moderate depression
- GAD-7 score 0-12 indicates no anxiety, mild or moderate anxiety symptoms
- Individuals with self-reported difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep which are aligned with the DSM-5 insomnia criteria.
- Access to a computer or mobile with internet connectivity
- Ability to understand and speak English.
- Willingness and ability to participate in the internet-based CBT-I programme for five weeks (including the study-related assessments and post-follow-up interview)
- Willing to provide informed consent.
You may not qualify if:
- Individuals with a history of severe or chronic insomnia
- Those with a history of major psychiatric or neurological disorders (dementia, Alzheimer's disease)
- Those with cognitive impairments
- Those currently receiving or received CBT-I within the past year
- Those currently receiving medication for insomnia
- Individuals with known sleep disorders other than mild-moderate insomnia (sleep apnoea).
- Individuals suffering from chronic pain
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Not able to understand and respond in the study language.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Overcomelead
Study Sites (1)
Overcome
Arnside, LA5 0DP, United Kingdom
Related Publications (23)
Yasugaki S, Okamura H, Kaneko A, Hayashi Y. Bidirectional relationship between sleep and depression. Neurosci Res. 2025 Feb;211:57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.04.006. Epub 2023 Apr 26.
PMID: 37116584BACKGROUNDWilson SJ, Nutt DJ, Alford C, Argyropoulos SV, Baldwin DS, Bateson AN, Britton TC, Crowe C, Dijk DJ, Espie CA, Gringras P, Hajak G, Idzikowski C, Krystal AD, Nash JR, Selsick H, Sharpley AL, Wade AG. British Association for Psychopharmacology consensus statement on evidence-based treatment of insomnia, parasomnias and circadian rhythm disorders. J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Nov;24(11):1577-601. doi: 10.1177/0269881110379307. Epub 2010 Sep 2.
PMID: 20813762BACKGROUNDTheppornpitak W, Hemrungrojn S, Thienwiwatnukul K, Muntham D, Chirakalwasan N, Srisawart P. Effectiveness of internet-based CBT-I for the treatment of chronic subthreshold to moderate insomnia. Front Neurol. 2023 Jun 2;14:1180339. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1180339. eCollection 2023.
PMID: 37346166BACKGROUNDSiengsukon CF, Alshehri M, Williams C, Drerup M, Lynch S. Feasibility and treatment effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 May;40:101958. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.101958. Epub 2020 Jan 23.
PMID: 32014809BACKGROUNDSalwen-Deremer JK, Smith MT, Aschbrenner KA, Haskell HG, Speed BC, Siegel CA. A pilot feasibility trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia in people with inflammatory bowel disease. BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2021 Dec;8(1):e000805. doi: 10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000805.
PMID: 34969664BACKGROUNDRetzer L, Feil M, Reindl R, Richter K, Lehmann R, Stemmler M, Graessel E. Anonymous online cognitive behavioral therapy for sleep disorders in shift workers-a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Aug 16;22(1):539. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05437-9.
PMID: 34399824BACKGROUNDPollak KI, Childers JW, Arnold RM. Applying motivational interviewing techniques to palliative care communication. J Palliat Med. 2011 May;14(5):587-92. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2010.0495. Epub 2011 Feb 3.
PMID: 21291329BACKGROUNDPlummer F, Manea L, Trepel D, McMillan D. Screening for anxiety disorders with the GAD-7 and GAD-2: a systematic review and diagnostic metaanalysis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2016 Mar-Apr;39:24-31. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.11.005. Epub 2015 Nov 18.
PMID: 26719105BACKGROUNDMatthews EE, Arnedt JT, McCarthy MS, Cuddihy LJ, Aloia MS. Adherence to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2013 Dec;17(6):453-64. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2013.01.001. Epub 2013 Apr 17.
PMID: 23602124BACKGROUNDKarlin BE, Trockel M, Spira AP, Taylor CB, Manber R. National evaluation of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia among older versus younger veterans. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015 Mar;30(3):308-15. doi: 10.1002/gps.4143. Epub 2014 May 29.
PMID: 24890708BACKGROUNDJohnson JA, Rash JA, Campbell TS, Savard J, Gehrman PR, Perlis M, Carlson LE, Garland SN. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in cancer survivors. Sleep Med Rev. 2016 Jun;27:20-8. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2015.07.001. Epub 2015 Aug 1.
PMID: 26434673BACKGROUNDGrupp-Phelan J, Stevens J, Boyd S, Cohen DM, Ammerman RT, Liddy-Hicks S, Heck K, Marcus SC, Stone L, Campo JV, Bridge JA. Effect of a Motivational Interviewing-Based Intervention on Initiation of Mental Health Treatment and Mental Health After an Emergency Department Visit Among Suicidal Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Dec 2;2(12):e1917941. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.17941.
PMID: 31860104BACKGROUNDGlass J, Lanctot KL, Herrmann N, Sproule BA, Busto UE. Sedative hypnotics in older people with insomnia: meta-analysis of risks and benefits. BMJ. 2005 Nov 19;331(7526):1169. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38623.768588.47. Epub 2005 Nov 11.
PMID: 16284208BACKGROUNDEspie CA, Kyle SD, Williams C, Ong JC, Douglas NJ, Hames P, Brown JS. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of online cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic insomnia disorder delivered via an automated media-rich web application. Sleep. 2012 Jun 1;35(6):769-81. doi: 10.5665/sleep.1872.
PMID: 22654196BACKGROUNDEdinger JD, Bonnet MH, Bootzin RR, Doghramji K, Dorsey CM, Espie CA, Jamieson AO, McCall WV, Morin CM, Stepanski EJ; American Academy of Sleep Medicine Work Group. Derivation of research diagnostic criteria for insomnia: report of an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Work Group. Sleep. 2004 Dec 15;27(8):1567-96. doi: 10.1093/sleep/27.8.1567.
PMID: 15683149BACKGROUNDDunn C, Deroo L, Rivara FP. The use of brief interventions adapted from motivational interviewing across behavioral domains: a systematic review. Addiction. 2001 Dec;96(12):1725-42. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.961217253.x.
PMID: 11784466BACKGROUNDCostantini L, Pasquarella C, Odone A, Colucci ME, Costanza A, Serafini G, Aguglia A, Belvederi Murri M, Brakoulias V, Amore M, Ghaemi SN, Amerio A. Screening for depression in primary care with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9): A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2021 Jan 15;279:473-483. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.131. Epub 2020 Oct 6.
PMID: 33126078BACKGROUNDChristensen DL, Braun KVN, Baio J, Bilder D, Charles J, Constantino JN, Daniels J, Durkin MS, Fitzgerald RT, Kurzius-Spencer M, Lee LC, Pettygrove S, Robinson C, Schulz E, Wells C, Wingate MS, Zahorodny W, Yeargin-Allsopp M. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2012. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2018 Nov 16;65(13):1-23. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.ss6513a1.
PMID: 30439868BACKGROUNDCassel M, Blom K, Gatzacis J, Renblad P, Kaldo V, Jernelov S. Clinical feasibility of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in a real-world mixed sample at a specialized psychiatric outpatient clinic. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Sep 9;22(1):600. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04231-4.
PMID: 36085009BACKGROUNDCarney CE, Buysse DJ, Ancoli-Israel S, Edinger JD, Krystal AD, Lichstein KL, Morin CM. The consensus sleep diary: standardizing prospective sleep self-monitoring. Sleep. 2012 Feb 1;35(2):287-302. doi: 10.5665/sleep.1642.
PMID: 22294820BACKGROUNDBertisch SM, Pollock BD, Mittleman MA, Buysse DJ, Bazzano LA, Gottlieb DJ, Redline S. Insomnia with objective short sleep duration and risk of incident cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: Sleep Heart Health Study. Sleep. 2018 Jun 1;41(6):zsy047. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsy047.
PMID: 29522193BACKGROUNDundefined
BACKGROUNDAlimoradi Z, Jafari E, Brostrom A, Ohayon MM, Lin CY, Griffiths MD, Blom K, Jernelov S, Kaldo V, Pakpour AH. Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2022 Aug;64:101646. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101646. Epub 2022 May 10.
PMID: 35653951BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- OTHER
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Lead Clinical Researcher
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
November 29, 2023
First Posted
January 18, 2024
Study Start
February 24, 2024
Primary Completion
November 27, 2024
Study Completion
March 20, 2025
Last Updated
July 2, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-06
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
As it is a pilot and feasibility study, the researchers decided to not make the IPDs shareable to other researchers outside of Outcome. The access to trial IPD will be limited to the researchers within Overcome for future full-scale research. However, the researchers might reconsider at the end of the study, if the results from the thematic analysis and/or statistical analysis would be outside of our predictions.