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Citation
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Ymer L, McKay A, Wong D, Frencham K, Grima N, Tran J, Nguyen S, Junge M, Murray J, Spitz G, Ponsford J. Ann. Phys. Rehabil. Med. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance and fatigue are highly prevalent after acquired brain injury (ABI) and are associated with poor functional outcomes. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a promising treatment for sleep and fatigue problems after ABI, although comparison with an active control is needed to establish efficacy.
OBJECTIVES: We compared CBT for sleep disturbance and fatigue (CBT-SF) with a health education (HE) intervention to control for non-specific therapy effects.
METHODS: In a parallel-group, pilot randomised controlled trial, 51 individuals with traumatic brain injury (n=22) and stroke (n=29) and clinically significant sleep and/or fatigue problems were randomised 2:1 to 8 weeks of a CBT-SF (n=34) or HE intervention (n=17), both adapted for cognitive impairments. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 2 and 4 months post-treatment. The primary outcome was the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; secondary outcomes included measures of fatigue, sleepiness, mood, quality of life, activity levels, self-efficacy and actigraphy sleep measures.
RESULTS: The CBT-SF led to significantly greater improvements in sleep quality as compared with HE, during treatment and at 2 months [95% confidence interval (CI) -24.83; -7.71], as well as significant reductions in fatigue maintained at all time points, which were not evident with HE (95% CI -1.86; 0.23). HE delayed improvement in sleep quality at 4 months post-treatment and in depression (95% CI -1.37; -0.09) at 2 months post-treatment. CBT-SF led to significant gains in self-efficacy (95% CI 0.15; 0.53) and mental health (95% CI 1.82; 65.06).
CONCLUSIONS: CBT-SF can be an effective treatment option for sleep disturbance and fatigue after ABI, over and above HE. HE may provide delayed benefit for sleep, possibly by improving mood. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617000879369 (registered 15/06/2017) and ACTRN12617000878370 (registered 15/06/2017).
Language: en |