Fleming, L., Randell, K., Harvey, C.J., & Espie, C.A. (2014). Does cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia reduce clinical levels of fatigue, anxiety and depression in cancer patients? Psycho-Oncology.
To explore relationships among variables and evaluate change in symptoms following cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI)
This paper reports a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of CBTI delivered in group sessions over five weeks. Assessments done at baseline and post-treatment were analyzed.
PHASE OF CARE: Transition phase after active treatment
Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
The most common symptom cluster reported was insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue (18% of patients). Clinical-level insomnia was reduced by 52% in the CBTI group compared to a 17.5% reduction in the usual care controls post-intervention (p < .001). CBTI resulted in a 10.9% reduction in rate of clinical levels of fatigue, compared with a 2.5% increase in control patients post-treatment (p = .03). Anxiety rates did not change. Most patients were not clinically depressed at baseline, and no significant differences were seen between groups in depression rates post-intervention.
The CBTI reduced prevalence of insomnia and clinically relevant fatigue.
Findings support the use of CBTI for sleep/wake disturbance and fatigue management in patients after cancer treatment. Follow-up in this report was immediately after five weeks of the intervention only, so how long-lasting any effects are is not clear.