Effects of a digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on sleep and alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers: A randomized pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundInsomnia is a well‐established, prospective risk factor for Alcohol Use Disorder. Thus, targeting sleep problems could serve as a novel and efficacious means of reducing problematic drinking. Here, we examined the potential utility of a well‐validated, interactive, easy to use, self‐paced digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia program. In a randomized, single‐blind pilot study, we examined the impact of treatment with Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi) on drinking and sleep outcomes in a sample of heavy drinkers with insomnia.MethodsHeavy drinking men (n = 28) and women (n = 42) with insomnia were randomly assigned to complete either the SHUTi program or a control patient education program. Subjective measures of sleep and alcohol use were administered at baseline, immediately following completion of the intervention, 3 months post‐intervention, and 6 months post‐intervention. Sleep outcomes were assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Drinking outcomes were assessed using the 30‐Day Timeline Follow‐Back calendar. We used linear mixed effects models to compare groups on both insomnia and drinking outcomes.ResultsData from all 70 subjects (SHUTI: n = 40; control: n = 30) were analyzed. Linear mixed effects models showed that SHUTi significantly reduced insomnia symptoms (p = 0.01) and drinking outcomes (ps < 0.05) more than the control condition over time. Trend‐level effects on sleep quality (p = 0.06) were also observed. No adverse events were reported.ConclusionsImproving sleep may be an effective treatment intervention for reducing hazardous drinking in at‐risk individuals. Further, findings provide preliminary support for the implementation of an easily accessible health behavior intervention with significant public health impact in a high‐risk population.