The Sleep Course: Examining the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of an Online Sleep Intervention for Adults with Self-reported Sleep Difficulties

To improve access to effective psychological treatment, Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ICBT) has been developed. ICBT delivers therapeutic content via structured online lessons usually over several months, teaching the same skills that are taught in face-to-face cognitive behaviour therapy. In routine practice, ICBT is often accompanied by brief therapist support offered via secure messaging and/or phone calls. A growing body of research supports the effectiveness of ICBT for a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, and insomnia. For insomnia, ICBTi has been shown to result in improvements on various sleep measures, comorbid anxiety and depression, and quality of life, with outcomes comparable to face-to-face treatment.

Importantly, there are a growing number of studies showing the effectiveness of ICBT for depression and anxiety extends to routine care. However, there are fewer studies exploring ICBTi in routine care, particularly when minimal exclusion criteria are imposed. This research is important because sleep difficulties and insomnia are common, distressing and often disabling and frequently comorbid with mood or anxiety disorders as well as various physical conditions. Moreover, access to specialized psychological services, such as CBTi, is often limited, despite CBTi being a well-established first-line treatment, which many clients find more acceptable than medication. Two key aspects of CBTi are stimulus control and sleep restriction though other strategies such as cognitive restructuring and relaxation are also commonly included. ICBTi offers a promising approach for expanding access to evidence-based treatment for insomnia. This is especially critical given the high personal and societal costs of leaving insomnia untreated.

From past research, the investigators have found that approximately 73% of clients enrolled in the routine clinic that offers ICBT for anxiety and depression also reported significant sleep problems. Of these, only 30% accessed an additional sleep resource to address their sleep concerns. While improvements in sleep were observed among all clients enrolled in ICBT, average post-test treatment scores indicated many clients still had significant difficulties with insomnia. In another study conducted within the investigators' Unit, the investigators explored whether offering an insomnia-focussed lesson at the beginning of ICBT would improve insomnia symptoms. In this study, the investigators found that clients experienced large reductions in insomnia symptoms at a faster rate than when clients did not receive the insomnia lesson at the beginning of ICBT. However, even with these improvements, many clients continued to report clinically significant levels of insomnia post-treatment, indicating that further support for insomnia symptoms may be beneficial.

Overall, given that the investigators ICBT program does not appear to be fully meeting the sleep needs of clients who have depression and anxiety, as well as the needs of clients who have sleep problems or insomnia and do not want ICBT for depression and anxiety, the investigators believe it would be valuable to explore the benefits of offering ICBTi in the routine care clinic. This is especially important for routine care settings where inclusivity is key and services should be broadly accessible.

One such program that shows promise among clients with diverse sleep difficulties is the Sleep Course. The current study therefore aims to explore the extent to which this ICBTi program will be used by clients seeking services within the routine online clinic. Additionally, the study will explore the demographic and clinical characteristics of clients who seek ICBTi, as well as the acceptability and effectiveness of the ICBTi program. The data collected will shape long-term practices within the Online Therapy Unit and has potential to significantly enhance service delivery. The research will also provide valuable insights for other online clinics regarding the potential of offering ICBTi in routine online care. By exploring the program's use, client characteristics, acceptability, and effectiveness, this study will contribute to a broader understanding of how ICBTi can be successfully integrated into routine online services, ultimately improving access to evidence-based treatment for insomnia.