The underlying hypothesis, because it is still hypothetical, is that, at equal medical characteristics, psychological factors such as insomnia will make a difference. We are presently starting a research program, funded by the Medical Research Council of Canada, on this issue. Specifically, our goal is to verify the effect of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia on immune functioning, and eventually on cancer progression, among breast cancer patients. The treatment administered in this study is the one developed by Dr. Charles M. Morin from Universit Laval, who is a collaborator on this project. Research has unanimously supported the efficacy of this treatment in non-medically ill individuals.
Insomnia is a major threat to quality of life.
If our hypotheses are verified, thus if insomnia really has an influence on immune functioning and cancer progression, it will become even more crucial to effectively screen and treat cancer patients with insomnia.