CBT Improves Sleep, Depression In Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves sleep, daily fatigue levels, and depression among individuals with traumatic brain injury, compared with usual treatment, according to a recent study.For their study, the researchers evaluated 24 adults with a history of traumatic brain injury and clinically significant sleep and/or fatigue issues. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 8 sessions of an adapted CBT intervention or usual treatment.

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The researchers administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at post-treatment and at 2-month follow-up as a primary measure and the Insomnia Severity Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as secondary measures.

Results indicated that participants in the CBT group had better self-reported quality of sleep at follow-up than those in the usual treatment group. Participants in the CBT group had significantly reduced daily fatigue levels and significantly improved depression scores. Additionally, the researchers observed large within-group effect sizes across measures. Results were maintained 2 months after the cessation of therapy.

“Adapted CBT produced greater and sustained improvements in sleep, daily fatigue levels, and depression compared with [treatment as usual],” the researchers concluded. “These pilot findings suggest that CBT is a promising treatment for sleep disturbance and fatigue after [traumatic brain injury].”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Nguyen S, McKay A, Wong D, et al. Cognitive behavior therapy to treat sleep disturbance and fatigue after traumatic brain injury: a pilot randomized controlled trial.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2017;98(8):1508-1517. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.02.031.