CBTi stands for "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia", known in Danish as kognitiv adfærdsterapi for søvnløshed.
CBTi is an effective treatment that can relieve sleeplessness – and sustain the effect.
Among other things, the aim of cognitive behavioral therapy is to reduce racing thoughts and worries about sleep, which can play a major role in maintaining poor sleep patterns.
CBTi includes exercises within themes such as sleep restriction, sleep hygiene, stimulus control, deactivation and cognitive behavioral therapy. These exercises are effective in changing sleep habits, thoughts and beliefs about sleep.
CBT is an effective, well-documented, non-drug alternative for relieving sleeplessness. It is recommended as the first choice for treating sleeplessness by relevant health authorities and organisations in the EU and the US.
The challenge lies in meeting the extensive need among the population, due to costs and a shortage of trained therapists and psychologists.
Digitally delivered CBT (dCBT) has proven to be an effective solution to this challenge in a number of international studies and in a Danish study.
Sleeplessness is a widespread but underdiagnosed and undertreated problem with significant consequences for the well-being and health of those affected. At the same time, sleeplessness has major socio-economic consequences.
Hvil® is a cost-effective, fully automated solution for helping people who suffer from sleeplessness.
Hvil® is scalable and can therefore reach many people affected by sleeplessness – all at once.
Literature
Hvil® is based on elements of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi). In general, few side effects have been reported in connection with CBTi.
Sleep restriction is the component whose side effects have been studied the most. In sleep restriction, you are assigned a sleep window, which typically means that you have to limit your sleep for a period. Side effects that may be experienced in connection with sleep restriction include:
The side effects typically subside as sleep improves.
Sleep restriction will typically not be recommended if the side effects are judged to pose a risk to safety (e.g. fatigue/reduced alertness in long-haul drivers, brain surgeons, etc.).
Similar side effects, such as a temporary increase in sleepiness, fatigue and reduced alertness, can also occur in connection with stimulus control.
In general, the benefits of CBTi are considered to outweigh the side effects. Among other things, CBTi has been shown to be associated with better mood, well-being, quality of life, and social and occupational functioning, as well as reduced mental health symptoms.
