| It has been shown that, for people seeking treatment of insomnia, the severity of depressive symptoms decrease after a course of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia; however, questions remain about whether targeting the primary disorder reduces insomnia symptom severity. After a brief review of effective treatments for depression and primary insomnia, the current study aimed to determine the effects of psychological treatments for depression on symptoms of insomnia. To answer this question, hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze archival data collected from 14 separate studies examining the efficacy of several types of psychological treatments for depression in the adult and older adult populations. Only those participants reporting difficulty sleeping prior to treatment were included in the final analysis ( n = 948). Results indicated that participating in a course of psychotherapy for depression significantly decreased problems with early-, middle- and late-night sleep when compared to those not receiving such treatment. Also revealed was that the severity of depressive symptoms prior to treatment helped predict sleep outcomes in most; participants experiencing less severe depressive symptoms typically experience fewer sleep disturbances post-treatment than those with more severe symptoms. Instances in which studies varied in their findings and limitations of the study are described. Clinical considerations and future research and program development opportunities generated from the results are offered. |
