Treatment of Insomnia within an Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Prior research indicates interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (IPRP) usual care (UC) does not sufficiently address sleep problems among individuals with comorbid chronic pain and clinical levels of insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based insomnia intervention. The current study investigates the translation of CBT-I into an IPRP.

METHOD

In this single-site, prospective, randomized controlled pilot study, insomnia and pain-related outcomes were examined for adults participating in a 10-week IPRP ( = 79) who were allocated to a 4-session group-based CBT-I (IPRP+CBT-I) or usual care (IPRP-UC) condition.

RESULTS

Patients in the IPRP+CBT-I group showed improvements in insomnia symptoms at the end compared to the beginning of the CBT-I group; however, there were no IPRP outcome differences relative to the IPRP-UC condition. Both groups reported statistically significant reductions in insomnia, pain severity, pain-related life interference, and depressed mood. Fewer than one-third of participants reported clinically meaningful reductions in insomnia symptoms following IPRP participation.

CONCLUSIONS

Further efforts are needed to address sleep problems in pain rehabilitation settings.