[Predictors of the effectiveness of psychological sleep management in cancer patients during inpatient rehabilitation].

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.