Recommendations to bolster adherence in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a self-efficacy approach

Abstract

Lay Summary The safest and most effective treatment for chronic insomnia is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). People sometimes struggle to adhere to, or follow the steps, involved in CBT-I because they are challenging (i.e., restricting time in bed to induce sleepiness, getting out of bed when not sleeping). These steps are based on sleep science and research shows that more closely adhering to them relates to better sleep improvements. One way that clinicians can help patients completing CBT-I improve their adherence to the difficult treatment steps is to promote their self-efficacy, or belief that they can effectively complete the treatment steps. Inspired by tried-and-true health promotion techniques rooted in Social Cognitive Theory, this paper describes concrete recommendations that clinicians can use to improve their patients’ self-efficacy when completing CBT-I. These recommendations include suggestions such as setting positive treatment expectations, discussing with patients how to set up for success when completing the treatment steps at home, and how to work with potential barriers to treatment. If clinicians can help boost patients’ self-efficacy, they may be able to carry out the treatment steps of CBT-I more effectively, and ultimately experience more benefits.