ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is a first-line treatment for a prevalent and impairing disorder. Digital CBTi programs increase access to internet-based self-directed care. However, the clinical effect of offering different forms of CBTi in a healthcare setting is not clearly understood. This study examines treatment engagement and clinical outcomes for individuals referred to either digital or provider-led CBTi. METHODS: Over two years, providers at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility referred patients to digital CBTi with telephone coaching support or traditional provider-led CBTi. Characteristics of those referred, proportions engaging in and completing treatment, as well as insomnia severity were compared among those referred to each format. RESULTS: Providers referred 139 individuals to digital CBTi, 340 to provider-led CBTi, and 14 to both formats. Individuals referred to digital CBTi were older with less severe insomnia. Despite lower levels of program engagement and completion in the digital CBTi cohort, measures of insomnia symptom change were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate both digital and provider-led evidence-based treatments for insomnia disorder simultaneously deployed in a healthcare setting. While engagement in digital CBTi lagged that for provider-led CBTi, offering both formats may expand access to different groups, while fostering similar outcomes.
ABSTRACT
The current study compared polysomnography results of 200 consecutive VA sleep clinic referrals with PTSD, other mental health diagnoses (OTHMH), and no mental health diagnoses (NOMH). There were 59 (29.5%) NOMH cases, 62 (31.0%) PTSD cases, and 79 (39.5%) OTHMH cases. SA was diagnosed in 105 cases (52.5%), and rates of SA diagnosis did not differ by MH diagnosis. PTSD SA cases were younger than NOMH cases. NOMH cases had less sleep and higher apnea-hypopnea index than OTHMH cases. PTSD cases were not different on any sleep variable, hypertension frequency, or body-mass index.
Subject(s)
Sleep Apnea Syndromes , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Veterans , Humans , Mental Health , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/complications , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presenting for care with Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VA) tend not to engage in evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) despite widespread availability of these treatments. Though there is little evidence that "readiness for treatment" affects treatment choice, many VA providers believe that interventions to increase readiness would be helpful. This naturalistic study examined the effects of a 4-session education/treatment-planning group on treatment choice among veterans in a VA outpatient PTSD treatment program. METHOD: Treatment choices and completion rates of 114 veterans who received at least 1 session of the group (EG) were compared with those of 68 veterans who did not receive the group and received PTSD program treatment as usual (TAU). TAU and EG cases were matched on gender and service era. RESULTS: Of 114 EG cases, 52 (45.6%) chose to receive EBPs, compared with 10 of 68 TAU cases (14.7%). These rates were significantly different, χ2(1) = 18.1, p < .0001. Among cases choosing EBPs, 52.2% of EG cases completed the EBPs as planned, compared with 60% of TAU cases. These percentages were not significantly different. Among EG cases choosing EBPs, lower likelihood of treatment completion was related to psychiatric medication prescription, presence of PTSD service connection, and higher overall service-connection level. CONCLUSION: The education/treatment-planning group was associated with higher likelihood of selecting but not completing EBPs for PTSD. The decision to engage in trauma-focused treatment may be a different process from the decision to complete such treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record