Assessment of a Behavioral Sleep Program in a Population With Sleep Disturbances

Sleep disturbances are considered a significant public health concern. The prevalence of disrupted sleep among US adults has increased to alarming levels. Around 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disturbance. Reduced sleep and poor sleep quality have been linked to cardiovascular disease, increased risk for obesity, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.

Sleep disturbances are characterized by dissatisfaction with sleep quality or sleep quantity, which may be associated with difficulties initiating sleep, difficulties maintaining sleep, or early-morning awakenings with an inability to return to sleep. Sleep disturbances including insomnia can be treated with pharmacological treatments. However, individuals often report adverse side effects. Increasing attention has therefore been paid to behavioral and psychological interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.

The study will assess a smartphone-based sleep program by Headspace Health that combines cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) and mindfulness concepts to minimize nocturnal symptoms and waking consequences associated with sleep disturbances.

The study aims to test the effectiveness of the Headspace Health Sleep Program on self-reported outcomes related to sleep quality. A secondary aim is to test objective measures of sleep quality using actigraphy.

The Headspace Health Sleep Program is an 18 day program based on CBTi, which includes the following intervention components: 1) a sleep diary to monitor sleep and associated factors; 2) cognitive interventions to address maladaptive thoughts related to sleep; 3) behavioral interventions to address maladaptive behaviors related to sleep (e.g., sleep hygiene, stimulus control, and sleep restriction); 4) de-arousal techniques (e.g., mindfulness, breathing, and muscle relaxation exercises).

The purpose of the study is to examine the effectiveness of the Headspace Health Sleep Program for improving both subjective sleep quality (i.e., self-reported surveys) as well as objective sleep quality (i.e. actigraphy) in a population with sleep disturbances. The study will employ a 2-arm app-based intervention involving 1 active intervention (i.e., Headspace Health Sleep Program) and a waitlist control for a duration of 18 days.

A set of outcome measures will be used to evaluate the Headspace Health Sleep Program vs. a waitlist control group. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) will be used as a primary outcome measure as well as the Sleep Diary, and actigraphy. In addition, secondary outcome measures include Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Baseline measures will be taken prior to randomization, and at post-intervention. 2 weeks following the post-intervention assessment, participants will again be asked to report sleep quality using self-reported surveys.

Eligible participants will complete a 1-week baseline assessment period. Participants will be supplied with a wrist actigraph and sleep diary. On the first day of the assessment period, participants will be instructed to start wearing the wrist actigraph. They will also be instructed to complete the sleep diary the following morning. Participants will continue this procedure of filling in the sleep diary every morning for the 1-week baseline assessment period and wearing the wrist actigraph. Following the 1-week baseline assessment period, participants will be asked to return the sleep diary, wrist actigraph, and complete baseline questionnaires (i.e., ISI, PSQI, PSS-10, PHQ8, GAD7, MAAS). They will then be randomized into one of two groups (Headspace Health Sleep Program or waitlist control). Having completed the intervention, participants will be scheduled for the 1-week post-intervention assessment period. Participants will again be supplied with a wrist actigraph, and sleep diary. At the end of this 1-week post-intervention assessment period, participants will return the sleep diary, wrist actigraph, and complete questionnaires (i.e., ISI, PSQI, PSS-10, PHQ8, GAD7, MAAS). 2 weeks following the post-intervention, participants will be asked to complete the sleep diary for a 1-week follow-up assessment period and in addition the ISI, PSQI, PSS-10, PHQ8, GAD7 and MAAS.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* A total score of 11 or greater on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
* Fluency in English
* Own a smartphone that can support downloaded apps

Exclusion Criteria:

* Completed CBTi program in the past 6 months.
* Risk factors associated with severe insomnia such as depression and self-harm.