Activities per year
Abstract
Introduction:
Due to the gap in non-pharmacological insomnia treatment, effective and validated digital solutions are urgently needed. So far, digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) options comprise a therapy program and subjective sleep measurement in form of a sleep diary. Objective sleep measurement is usually not included. Here, we evaluated the effects of a CBT-I-based app (NUKKUAA®) combining sleep training with subjective and objective sleep monitoring using a heart rate (HR) sensor. A RCT study was conducted to investigate effects on sleep and subjective-objective sleep discrepancies (SOSD).
Method:
Fifty-seven volunteers (20–76 years; MAge = 45.67 ± 16.38; 39 female) suffering from sleep problems were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 28) or a waitlist control group (CG, n = 29). During the 6-week intervention phase, the EG used the CBT-I-based programme and daily subjective and objective sleep monitoring as well as feedback on their sleep, while the CG used sleep monitoring only. Sleep was measured (i) subjectively via questionnaires (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), (ii) objectively via ambulatory polysomnography (PSG), and (iii) continuously via HR sensor and sleep diaries.
Results:
Data revealed interactions for ISI (p = 0.003, ƞ2 part = 0.11) and PSQI (p = 0.050, ƞ2 part = 0.05), indicating training-specific improvements in EG, yet not in CG. While PSG-derived outcomes appear to be less training-specific, a tendential reduction in wake after sleep onset (WASO) was found in EG (p = 0.061, d = 0.55). Regarding changes in SOSD, the results indicate improvements during the app phase (EG) for sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and WASO (p ≤ 0.022, d ≥ 0.46); for total sleep time both groups showed a SOSD reduction.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate beneficial effects of a novel smartphone app on sleep and SOSD. More scientific evaluation of such digital programmes is needed to ultimately help in reducing the gap in non-pharmacological insomnia treatment and provide affected individuals with sufficient treatment options and effective, low-threshold support for their sleep problems.
Conflict of Interest: Yes- MS is Co-Founder and CSO of NUKKUAA®. AH and E-SE received an honorarium for data collection from the NUKKUAA GmbH.
Due to the gap in non-pharmacological insomnia treatment, effective and validated digital solutions are urgently needed. So far, digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) options comprise a therapy program and subjective sleep measurement in form of a sleep diary. Objective sleep measurement is usually not included. Here, we evaluated the effects of a CBT-I-based app (NUKKUAA®) combining sleep training with subjective and objective sleep monitoring using a heart rate (HR) sensor. A RCT study was conducted to investigate effects on sleep and subjective-objective sleep discrepancies (SOSD).
Method:
Fifty-seven volunteers (20–76 years; MAge = 45.67 ± 16.38; 39 female) suffering from sleep problems were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 28) or a waitlist control group (CG, n = 29). During the 6-week intervention phase, the EG used the CBT-I-based programme and daily subjective and objective sleep monitoring as well as feedback on their sleep, while the CG used sleep monitoring only. Sleep was measured (i) subjectively via questionnaires (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), (ii) objectively via ambulatory polysomnography (PSG), and (iii) continuously via HR sensor and sleep diaries.
Results:
Data revealed interactions for ISI (p = 0.003, ƞ2 part = 0.11) and PSQI (p = 0.050, ƞ2 part = 0.05), indicating training-specific improvements in EG, yet not in CG. While PSG-derived outcomes appear to be less training-specific, a tendential reduction in wake after sleep onset (WASO) was found in EG (p = 0.061, d = 0.55). Regarding changes in SOSD, the results indicate improvements during the app phase (EG) for sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and WASO (p ≤ 0.022, d ≥ 0.46); for total sleep time both groups showed a SOSD reduction.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate beneficial effects of a novel smartphone app on sleep and SOSD. More scientific evaluation of such digital programmes is needed to ultimately help in reducing the gap in non-pharmacological insomnia treatment and provide affected individuals with sufficient treatment options and effective, low-threshold support for their sleep problems.
Conflict of Interest: Yes- MS is Co-Founder and CSO of NUKKUAA®. AH and E-SE received an honorarium for data collection from the NUKKUAA GmbH.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 26 Sept 2024 |
| Event | The 27th Conference of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) 2024 - Fibes – Conference and Exhibition, Seville, Spain Duration: 24 Sept 2024 → 27 Sept 2024 |
Conference
| Conference | The 27th Conference of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) 2024 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | Sleep Europe 2024 |
| Country/Territory | Spain |
| City | Seville |
| Period | 24/09/24 → 27/09/24 |
Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012
- 501 Psychology
Activities
- 1 Poster presentation
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Effects of combining digital therapy for insomnia with objective sleep tracking and feedback on sleep: A randomised controlled trial
Hinterberger, A. (Presenter)
26 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Poster presentation › science to science / art to art