Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with insomnia and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

What is known on the subjectSleep problems are common among those with depression, and there is increasing evidence that sleep problems should be addressed during treatment simultaneously rather than treating depression alone.The first-line treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), due to a lack of well-trained therapists and patient time constraints (travelling, work), CBT-I has not been popularized.The development of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) is making the treatment more accessible.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeInterventions for dCBT-I were significantly better than other control conditions in both reducing insomnia and improving depression in patients with depression and insomnia comorbidities.The effect was found to be related to the duration of the intervention and the severity of insomnia before the intervention and therapist-involved dCBT-I has less shedding than self-help.What are the implications for practiceIt's important for mental health practitioners to realize that insomnia in depressed people needs to be treated.Future trials may explore the effectiveness of therapist-guided dCBT-I in depressed populations and analyse the cost-effectiveness of this treatment.