Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy improves insomnia symptoms in individuals with recurrent depression: secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial.
Linn Nyjordet Evanger, Elisabeth Flo-Groeneboom, Lin Sørensen, Elisabeth Schanche
Frontiers in psychiatry January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1231040 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for recurrent depression improved certain insomnia symptoms in a randomized trial. Among 55 remitted participants with at least three prior depressive episodes (74.5% female, mean age 40.7 years), 83.6% screened positive for insomnia at baseline. After 8 weeks, MBCT completers reported significantly less severe insomnia symptoms, shorter time to fall asleep, and fewer nighttime awakenings compared to a waitlist control group. No differences were found for early morning awakening, daytime impairment, or sleep dissatisfaction. The findings suggest MBCT helps some sleep problems, but additional sleep-focused treatments may be needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Remitted adults with recurrent depression (at least three prior episodes) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Insomnia Psychotherapy Recurrent depression |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key finding | MBCT significantly reduced insomnia severity, sleep onset problems, and nocturnal awakenings compared to a waitlist control, but did not improve early morning awakening, daytime impairment, or sleep dissatisfaction. |
Abstract
Embedded within a randomized efficacy trial, the present study aimed to investigate whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for recurrent depression improved symptoms of insomnia. Sixty-eight remitted participants with at least three prior episodes of depression were randomized to 8 weeks of MBCT (n = 33) or a waitlist control condition (n = 35). The Bergen Insomnia Scale was used to screen for insomnia symptoms before and after the intervention. The analyses were conducted using one-way between-groups analyses of covariance. Twenty-five MBCT participants and 30 waitlist controls completed the study (74.5% females; mean age 40.7 ± 12.9 years). At baseline, 83.6% screened positive for the insomnia diagnosis. Following the intervention and after controlling for corresponding insomnia parameters at baseline, MBCT completers reported significantly less severe insomnia symptoms (p = 0.017), as well as less problems with prolonged sleep onset (p = 0.047) and nocturnal awakenings (p = 0.023), relative to controls. No group differences were found on early morning awakening, daytime impairment, or dissatisfaction with sleep. The results suggest that MBCT improves certain insomnia symptoms. However, additional sleep-specific interventions may be needed to further improve this population's sleep.Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN18001392, registered 22/11/2018. URL: 10.1186/ISRCTN18001392.