Increased adherence to CPAP with a group cognitive behavioral treatment intervention: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To improve adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in participants with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
A major teaching hospital in Sydney (2005).


METHODS
One hundred individuals (96 men), ranging in age from 32 to 81 years, diagnosed with OSA.


METHODS
Two 1-hour CBT interventions (including a video of real CPAP users) plus treatment as usual (mask fitting and information) or treatment as usual only.


RESULTS
Hours of CPAP usage was assessed at 7 nights and 28 nights. Adherence was defined as usage at least 4 hours per night. Questionnaires measuring self-efficacy, social support, and expectancy (mediators of adherence) were given after intervention or after usual treatment. A higher adherence to CPAP therapy was found in the CBT group (2.9 hours difference) relative to treatment as usual (P < 0.001) at 28 days. Only 4 participants in the CBT group did not initiate treatments after their titration study, compared with 15 in the treatment as usual group (P < 0.02). The CBT group had significantly higher scores for self-efficacy (P < 0.001) and social support P < 0.008) but not for expectancy.


CONCLUSIONS
The CBT intervention resulted in both increased adherence and "uptake" of CPAP and therefore would be expected to reduce the social, economic, and health-related consequences of untreated OSA.
Richards
Dianne
D
Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia.
Bartlett
Delwyn J
DJ
Wong
Keith
K
Malouff
John
J
Grunstein
Ronald R
RR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*