Help for insomnia from the app store? A standardized rating of mobile health applications claiming to target insomnia

Simon, Laura; Reimann, Josephin; Steubl, Lena; Stach, Michael; Spiegelhalder, Kai; Sander, Lasse; Baumeister, Harald; Messner, Eva‐Maria; Terhorst, Yannik

doi:10.1111/jsr.13642

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The evidence base reported reflects publications available from peer-review journals. For a systematic overview encompassing the wider number of apps claiming to improve sleep that are available through App stores, see Simon, Reimann, et al (2023). Table S1 (supplemental material) summarises programs which, up to now, lack evidence through an RCT.…”

Section: Stimulus Control Therapy (Sct)mentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Insomnia Guideline: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023

Riemann,

Espie,

Altena

et al. 2023

Journal of Sleep Research

Self Cite

143

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SummaryProgress in the field of insomnia since 2017 necessitated this update of the European Insomnia Guideline. Recommendations for the diagnostic procedure for insomnia and its comorbidities are: clinical interview (encompassing sleep and medical history); the use of sleep questionnaires and diaries (and physical examination and additional measures where indicated) (A). Actigraphy is not recommended for the routine evaluation of insomnia (C), but may be useful for differential‐diagnostic purposes (A). Polysomnography should be used to evaluate other sleep disorders if suspected (i.e. periodic limb movement disorder, sleep‐related breathing disorders, etc.), treatment‐resistant insomnia (A) and for other indications (B). Cognitive‐behavioural therapy for insomnia is recommended as the first‐line treatment for chronic insomnia in adults of any age (including patients with comorbidities), either applied in‐person or digitally (A). When cognitive‐behavioural therapy for insomnia is not sufficiently effective, a pharmacological intervention can be offered (A). Benzodiazepines (A), benzodiazepine receptor agonists (A), daridorexant (A) and low‐dose sedating antidepressants (B) can be used for the short‐term treatment of insomnia (≤ 4 weeks). Longer‐term treatment with these substances may be initiated in some cases, considering advantages and disadvantages (B). Orexin receptor antagonists can be used for periods of up to 3 months or longer in some cases (A). Prolonged‐release melatonin can be used for up to 3 months in patients ≥ 55 years (B). Antihistaminergic drugs, antipsychotics, fast‐release melatonin, ramelteon and phytotherapeutics are not recommended for insomnia treatment (A). Light therapy and exercise interventions may be useful as adjunct therapies to cognitive‐behavioural therapy for insomnia (B).

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Section: Stimulus Control Therapy (Sct)mentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Insomnia Guideline: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023

Riemann,

Espie,

Altena

et al. 2023

Journal of Sleep Research

Self Cite

143

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“…In addition, mHealth apps for treating sleep disturbance have been developed rapidly [30,31], and more than 2000 mHealth apps targeting sleep are presently available in commercial app stores [32]. Pulantara et al [33,34] developed the interactive Resilience Enhancing Sleep Tactics app and examined its clinical feasibility as a treatment for sleep behavior.…”

Section: Applications Of Mobile and Wearable Technologies To Improve ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the rapid growth of mHealth apps and mobile sensing technologies, recent reviews have indicated that scientific trials examining the usefulness of mHealth apps are limited [32], and further research is required to test whether objective data enhance sleep outcomes [37]. This research investigating the usefulness of mHealth apps in enhancing sleep has several limitations.…”

Section: Remaining Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Objective Push-Type Sleep Feedback on Habitual Sleep Behavior and Momentary Symptoms in Daily Life: mHealth Intervention Trial Using a Health Care Internet of Things System

Takeuchi¹,

Suwa²,

Kishi³

et al. 2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Sleep is beneficial for physical and mental health. Several mobile and wearable sleep-tracking devices have been developed, and personalized sleep feedback is the most common functionality among these devices. To date, no study has implemented an objective push-type feedback message and investigated the characteristics of habitual sleep behavior and diurnal symptoms when receiving sleep feedback. Objective We conducted a mobile health intervention trial to examine whether sending objective push-type sleep feedback changes the self-reported mood, physical symptoms, and sleep behavior of Japanese office workers. Methods In total, 31 office workers (mean age 42.3, SD 7.9 years; male-to-female ratio 21:10) participated in a 2-arm intervention trial from November 30 to December 19, 2020. The participants were instructed to indicate their momentary mood and physical symptoms (depressive mood, anxiety, stress, sleepiness, fatigue, and neck and shoulder stiffness) 5 times a day using a smartphone app. In addition, daily work performance was rated once a day after work. They were randomly assigned to either a feedback or control group, wherein they did or did not receive messages about their sleep status on the app every morning, respectively. All participants wore activity monitors on their nondominant wrists, through which objective sleep data were registered on the web on a server. On the basis of the estimated sleep data on the server, personalized sleep feedback messages were generated and sent to the participants in the feedback group using the app. These processes were fully automated. Results Using hierarchical statistical models, we examined the differences in the statistical properties of sleep variables (sleep duration and midpoint of sleep) and daily work performance over the trial period. Group differences in the diurnal slopes for mood and physical symptoms were examined using a linear mixed effect model. We found a significant group difference among within-individual residuals at the midpoint of sleep (expected a posteriori for the difference: −15, 95% credible interval −26 to −4 min), suggesting more stable sleep timing in the feedback group. However, there were no significant group differences in daily work performance. We also found significant group differences in the diurnal slopes for sleepiness (P<.001), fatigue (P=.002), and neck and shoulder stiffness (P<.001), which was largely due to better scores in the feedback group at wake-up time relative to those in the control group. Conclusions This is the first mobile health study to demonstrate that objective push-type sleep feedback improves sleep timing of and physical symptoms in healthy office workers. Future research should incorporate specific behavioral instructions intended to improve sleep habits and examine the effectiveness of these instructions.

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“…The authors conclude from their data that it seems likely that insomnia symptoms, especially in new-onset insomnia, during a general health crisis are associated with more negative dream changes during this collective stressful event, potentially leading to increased daytime distress and mental health symptoms. Simon et al (2023) asked the provocative question of whether there might be help for insomnia from the application (app) store?…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Simon et al (2023) asked the provocative question of whether there might be help for insomnia from the application (app) store? Out of 2,236 mobile health apps, 53 for insomnia were identified.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Focus on sleep‐related breathing disorders and COVID‐19

Riemann

2023

Journal of Sleep Research

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Help for insomnia from the app store? A standardized rating of mobile health applications claiming to target insomnia

Cited by 15 publications

References 41 publications

The European Insomnia Guideline: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023

The European Insomnia Guideline: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023

The Effects of Objective Push-Type Sleep Feedback on Habitual Sleep Behavior and Momentary Symptoms in Daily Life: mHealth Intervention Trial Using a Health Care Internet of Things System

Focus on sleep‐related breathing disorders and COVID‐19

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