A Computer Device to Deliver Behavioral Interventions for Insomnia

An automated program for delivering stimulus control and sleep restriction strategies was developed and implemented on a handheld computer and compared to a self-help manual program in 90 chronic primary insomnia participants at 6 and 12 weeks. The computerized program was generally well accepted and utilized. No significant differences between conditions were found on questionnaire and sleep diary measures, but subsequent exploratory analyses revealed greater percentages of participants in the computer condition compared to the self-help condition who were classified as without clinically significant insomnia at 6 weeks based on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) criteria. Further research is needed on the efficacy of computerized behavioral approaches for insomnia, but the results of this study indicate that computerized delivery of stimulus control and sleep restriction is feasible and sufficiently promising to warrant further study.