Background: A growing body of evidence for digital interventions to improve sleep shows promising effects. The interventions investigated so far have been primarily web-based; however, app-based interventions may reach a wider audience and be more suitable for daily use.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the intervention effects, adherence, and acceptance of an unguided app-based intervention for individuals who wish to improve their sleep.
Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the effects of an app-based short intervention (Refresh) to improve sleep compared with a waitlist condition. Refresh is an 8-week unguided intervention covering the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and including a sleep diary. The primary outcome was sleep quality (insomnia symptoms) as self-assessed by the Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS). The secondary outcomes were depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score) and perceived insomnia-related impairment.
Results: We included 371 participants, of which 245 reported poor sleep at baseline. About 1 in 3 participants who were allocated to the intervention group never accessed the intervention. Active participants completed on average 4 out of 8 chapters. Retention rates were 67.4% (n=250) at postassessment and 57.7% (n=214) at the 6-month follow-up. At postintervention, insomnia symptoms in the intervention group had improved more than those in the waitlist group, with a small effect (d=0.26) in the whole sample and a medium effect (d=0.45) in the subgroup with poor sleep. Effects in the intervention group were maintained at follow-up. Perceived insomnia-related impairment also improved from pre- to postassessment. No significant intervention effect on depression was detected. Working alliance and acceptance were moderate to good.
Conclusions: An app-based, unguided intervention is a feasible and effective option to scale-up CBT-I-based treatment, but intervention uptake and adherence need to be carefully addressed.
Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN53553517; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN53553517.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10131838 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/39052 | DOI Listing |
J Clin Psychol
January 2025
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, The Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Based on the repertory grid technique, we developed Explore Your Meanings (EYME), a digital platform that helps patients explore identity values and internal conflicts using virtual reality (VR). EYME was part of a research project treating depression in young adults, including 10 weekly, 1-h sessions aimed at changing personal constructs-cognitive schemas that shape how individuals interpret reality. We present the case of Mary, a 21-year-old woman diagnosed with persistent major depressive disorder and social phobia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndocrinol Diabetes Metab
January 2025
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Objective: This study investigates the relationship between the albumin-to-creatinine ratio and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in US adults using NHANES data from 2009 to 2016. This study assesses the predictive efficacy of the urinary serum albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR/SACR Ratio) against traditional biomarkers such as the serum albumin-to-creatinine ratio (SACR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) for evaluating DR risk. Additionally, the study explores the potential of these biomarkers, both individually and in combination with HbA1c, for early detection and risk stratification of DR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDev Med Child Neurol
January 2025
Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Aim: To identify developmental trajectories of impaired hand function in infants aged 3 to 15 months with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).
Method: Sixty-three infants (37 male; median gestational age 37 weeks [interquartile range 30-39.1 weeks]) recruited as part of a randomized trial with a confirmed diagnosis of unilateral CP were included.
Gut Microbes
December 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Ministry of Education), West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe, life-threatening inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, especially affecting preterm infants. This review consolidates evidence from various biomedical disciplines to elucidate the complex pathogenesis of NEC, integrating insights from clinical, microbial, and molecular perspectives. It emphasizes the modulation of NEC-associated inflammatory pathways by probiotics and novel biologics, highlighting their therapeutic potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSemin Ophthalmol
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Purposes: This meta-analysis aims to systematically analyze the efficacy of low-level red light (LRL) therapy for myopia control and prevention in children.
Methods: All the data were searched from the PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. The Cochrane Handbook was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!