Self-help treatment for insomnia through television and book: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, a Dutch educational broadcasting company developed a 6 week self-help course for insomnia, which consists of a book and television programmes. In this study we examined its effects.


METHODS
247 subjects with sleep problems were recruited through the media and randomized to the self-help treatment (n=126) or a waiting list control group (n=121). The intervention group received the book, and for 6 consecutive weeks a DVD or videotape. Subjects were assessed before and after the course.


RESULTS
Both groups improved significantly with respect to sleep but there were no significant differences in improvements between the groups. However, the intervention group improved significantly more on secondary outcomes: the subjective evaluation of sleep quality (d=0.65), dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (d=0.62), depressive symptoms (d=0.35), and quality of life (d=0.34).


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive-behavioral self-help treatment does not necessarily lead to sleep improvements but it does improve coping with insomnia.


CONCLUSIONS
About 2% of the Dutch adult population has watched the regular broadcastings of the course after the trial ended. This huge number of viewers underlines that there is a need for this type of low cost self-help treatment.
van Straten
Annemieke
A
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, FPP, Department of Clinical Psychology, Van der Boechorststraat 1, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.van.straten@psy.vu.nl
Cuijpers
Pim
P
Smit
Filip
F
Spermon
Marianne
M
Verbeek
Ingrid
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001877:Books; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials; D013690:Television