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The Effect of an Online Self-Help Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Insomnia on Negative Affect and Paranoia: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Scott, A; Rowse, G; Webb, TL

The Effect of an Online Self-Help Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Insomnia on Negative Affect and Paranoia: A Randomised Controlled Trial Thumbnail


Authors

G Rowse

TL Webb



Abstract

Background: Sleep and mental health go hand-in-hand, with problems sleeping being associated with a variety of mental health difficulties. Recently, insomnia has been linked with the experience of paranoia, a relationship that is likely to be mediated by negative affect. Given these links, the present research aimed to test whether a self-help intervention designed to improve sleep can also improve negative affect and paranoia.

Method: Participants were recruited from a mailing list of University staff and were randomly allocated to one of three conditions; a wait-list control group, an active control group who completed a sleep diary each day for 6 weeks, and an experimental group who received an online self-help intervention targeting sleep problems alongside the same sleep diary. Levels of insomnia, negative affect, and paranoia were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 4- and 18-weeks post-intervention.

Results: There were no significant differences between the groups on levels of insomnia, negative affect, and/or paranoid thinking at post-intervention, 4-weeks, or the 18-week follow-up. However, a relatively large number of participants dropped out of the study, particularly in the intervention group, which meant that the primary analysis was underpowered.

Conclusion: Due to a high level of participant dropout, the findings from the present research are inconclusive, and suggest that retaining participants in trials of online interventions is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed in future research.

Acceptance Date Sep 30, 2020
Publication Date Oct 6, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Health Psychology Bulletin
Print ISSN 2398-5941
Publisher Ubiquity Press
Pages 39 - 39
DOI https://doi.org/10.5334/hpb.6
Keywords Self-help; Insomnia; Negative affect; Paranoia; CBTi; Randomised Controlled Trial
Publisher URL https://www.healthpsychologybulletin.com/article/10.5334/hpb.6/

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