Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct Treatment to Light Therapy for Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the feasibility of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an additive treatment to light therapy (LT) for delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) in young people.
Results Summary
Light therapy advanced sleep-wake rhythm in both groups, but adding CBT did not show significant differences in primary endpoints compared to LT alone. However, anxiety and depression scores decreased more in the LT+CBT group.
Population
Participants aged 16 to 26 years with delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Two weeks of LT followed by four weeks of CBT or no treatment.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
light therapy (LT) | increase | sleep-wake rhythm | participants aged 16 to 26 years | - | advanced | #1 |
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an additive treatment to light therapy (LT) | no change | primary endpoints | participants aged 16 to 26 years | - | no significant group differences were observed | #2 |
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an additive treatment to light therapy (LT) | decrease | anxiety and depression scores | participants aged 16 to 26 years | - | decreased significantly more | #3 |
Delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) is common among young people, but there is still no evidence-based treatment available. In the present study, the feasibility of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was evaluated as an additive treatment to light therapy (LT) in DSPD. A randomized controlled trial with participants aged 16 to 26 years received LT for two weeks followed by either four weeks of CBT or no treatment (NT). LT advanced sleep-wake rhythm in both groups. Comparing LT+CBT with LT+NT, no significant group differences were observed in the primary endpoints. Although anxiety and depression scores were low at pretreatment, they decreased significantly more in LT+CBT compared to LT+NT. The results are discussed and some suggestions are given for further studies.