Insomnia is a common phenomenon in cancer patients; nevertheless, there are only a few intervention results published covering this topic. We examined the effects of a multi-modal psychological sleep management programme combining relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene, cognitive techniques and advice in stimulus control technique on various sleep and quality-of-life variables. We compared two intervention groups up to 6 months after treatment, one with progressive muscle relaxation (n=80), the other with autogenic training (n=71). A control group (n=78) received only a standard rehabilitation programme. It was a heterogeneous sample of adult patients (mean age 58 years) predominantly with breast, kidney or prostate cancer staying for 3 or 4 weeks in an oncological rehabilitation clinic. In comparison to the control group, the analysis of variance for repeated measures (R-MANOVA) showed significant improvements over time, indicating that intervention group participants benefited with moderate- or large-scale effects on sleep latency (p<0.001), sleep duration (p<0.001), sleep efficiency (p<0.001), sleep quality (p<0.001), sleep medication (p<0.05) and daytime dysfunction (p<0.05). In quality-of-life subscales, there was mainly improvement over time. This may indicate a benefit of the rehabilitation treatment in general. No evidence was found for any differences between the two intervention groups. The results suggest that the use of a multi-modal psychological sleep intervention could enhance various sleep parameters and well being of patients. The efficacy on quality of life is still under review.

Insomnia is a common phenomenon in cancer patients; nevertheless, there are only a few intervention results published covering this topic. In a former study we examined the effects of a psychological sleep management programme with two intervention groups (n=80, n=71) and one control group (n=78) and showed significant improvements over time, indicating that 50% to 80% of the intervention group participants benefited with moderate or large scale effects on several sleep variables. Now we reanalysed data to look for predictors for those patients who improved best. Almost no demographic, cancer-related or quality of life variables predicted treatment response and persons with greater sleep disturbances at the beginning do benefit the same as persons with less problems. Additionally, better acceptance of the chosen intervention form (cognitive-behavioural programme with autogenic training or with muscle relaxation technique) positively predicted good outcome. Explained variance associated with different outcome variables varied between 9% and 18%. Therefore training should be offered for all cancer patients with sleep problems, and they should have a choice between different relaxation techniques.