title: Telehealth cognitive behavior therapy for co-occurring insomnia and depression symptoms in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telehealth has proven effective with a wide range of disorders, but there is a paucity of data on the use of telehealth using cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) with late-life insomnia and depression. This pilot study was designed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of using telehealth to treat older adults with comorbid insomnia and depression living in rural Alabama.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients received 10 sessions of CBT for insomnia and depression. Patients were engaged in treatment via Skype from their primary care physician's office. Assessments were conducted at baseline, posttreatment, and 2-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients exhibited clinically significant improvement in both insomnia (sleep diaries and Insomnia Severity Index) and depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) at posttreatment, and these gains were well maintained at 2-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary data suggest that telehealth may be an effective means of providing treatment to older adults, including underserved populations.
authors.affiliation: The University of Alabama.
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lichstein
authors.forename: Forrest
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scogin
authors.forename: S Justin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: DiNapoli
authors.forename: Haley R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McFadden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: cognitive behavior therapy; depression; insomnia; telehealth