Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess an effect of cognitive behavioural therapy of insomnia on subjective and objective sleep parameters. The second aim was to examine the effect of therapy on discrepancy between objective and subjective sleep measures (sleep misperception) in adults with chronic insomnia.
Sixteen patients completed a 6 week group program. Patients filled in questionnaires assessing sleep quality, daytime symptoms and quality of life before and after the therapy, and sleep diary during the whole program.
Actigraphy was used as an objective sleep measure. Therapy led to a significant decrease of insomnia severity and increased quality of life.
There was a significant decrease of objective and subjective discrepancy of total sleep time and sleep efficiency after the treatment. Patients tended to significantly overestimate these parameters compared to objective measures.
Our study suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy mainly affects subjective assessment of severity and of symptoms of insomnia independently on changes in objective sleep parameters.