Effects of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Self-Reported Sleep Parameters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Search Strategy and Article Selection Process
- Abstract and Language: English or Portuguese.
- Article Type: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Population: Adults diagnosed with insomnia disorder based on the ICSD-3 (International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd edition), DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition), or equivalent guidelines. Adults with moderate to severe insomnia symptoms, as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) or the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), were also included. Self-reported insomnia diagnosis, or symptoms evaluation including mild or subclinical insomnia were excluded.
- Intervention: CBT-I delivered through digital platforms (websites or smartphone applications) for at least 6 weeks.
- Control Group: Active (telehealth CBT-I, in-person CBT-I, or pharmacological treatment) or inactive (waiting list, no treatment, minimal intervention, or placebo) control groups.
- Outcomes: Sleep parameters (calculated from sleep diaries data or obtained through polysomnography).
2.2. Data Extraction
- Sleep parameters: TST, SOL, SE, WASO, and NWAK, in any measurement unit (most likely time or percentage).
- Data for each parameter: Extracted for both experimental and control groups, including the number of participants per group, means, and standard deviations. When data was reported in the median, standard error or 95% confidence intervals (95CI), the values were converted into mean and standard deviations following recommended Cochrane formulas.
- Intervention time: The total duration of the intervention until outcome measurement.
- App/site: The name of the application or website used to deliver dCBT-I.
- Comparator: Whether the control group was active or inactive, along with what was specifically used.
2.3. Data Synthesis and Analyses
3. Results
3.1. Sample Description and Qualitative Synthesis
3.2. Quantitative Synthesis
3.2.1. Digital CBT-I Versus Active Control Group
3.2.2. Digital CBT-I Versus Inactive Control Group
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| CBT-I | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia |
| DCBT-I | Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia |
| RCT | Randomized Controlled Trial |
| PSG | Polysomnography |
| TST | Total Sleep Time |
| SOL | Sleep Onset Latency |
| SE | Sleep Efficiency |
| WASO | Wake After Sleep Onset |
| NWAK | Number of Awakenings |
| NFS | Not Further Specified |
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| Article | Analyses (n) | Program (App or Website) | Comparator | Control Type | Intervention Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lien 2019 [15] | 2 | SHUTi | Minimal intervention/sleep education | Inactive | 9 weeks |
| Horsch 2017 [16] | 1 | Sleepcare | No treatment/waiting list | Inactive | 6 weeks |
| Van der Zweerde 2020 [17] | 1 | i-Sleep | Care as usual/waiting list | Inactive | 5 weeks |
| Zhang 2023 [18] | 1 | Resleep | Minimal intervention/sleep education | Inactive | 6 weeks |
| Hagatun 2019 [19] | 1 | SHUTi | Minimal intervention/sleep education | Inactive | 6 months |
| Kuhn 2022 [20] | 1 | Insomnia Coach | No treatment/waiting list | Inactive | 6 weeks |
| Lancee 2015 [21] | 1 | Digital CBT-I protocol (NFS) | No treatment/waiting list | Inactive | 6 weeks |
| Lopez 2019 [22] | 1 | Digital CBT-I protocol (NFS) | Minimal intervention/sleep education | Inactive | 12 weeks |
| Ritterband 2009 [23] | 1 | SHUTi | No treatment/waiting list | Inactive | 9 weeks |
| Vedaa 2020 [24] | 1 | SHUTi | Minimal intervention/sleep education | Inactive | 9 weeks |
| Vincent 2009 [25] | 1 | Digital CBT-I protocol (NFS) | No treatment/waiting list | Inactive | 6 weeks |
| Lancee 2016 [26] | 2 | Digital CBT-I protocol (NFS) | No treatment/waiting list In-person CBT-I | Inactive Active | 6 weeks 6 weeks |
| Holmqvist 2014 [27] | 1 | Digital CBT-I protocol (NFS) | Telehealth and in-person CBT-I | Active | 6 weeks |
| Kallestad 2021 [28] | 1 | SHUTi | In-person CBT-I | Active | 6–9 weeks |
| Outcome | Active Control—Mean Difference (95% CI) | p | Inactive Control—Mean Difference (95% CI) | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TST | 0.08 (−0.56, 0.71) | p = 0.82 | 0.20 (0.11, 0.30) | p < 0.0001 |
| SOL | 4.31 (−4.14, 12.77) | p = 0.32 | −15.53 (−18.47, −12.58) | p < 0.00001 |
| SE | −2.03 (−8.34, 4.28) | p = 0.53 | 7.91 (6.08, 9.75) | p < 0.00001 |
| WASO | 6.55 (−0.60, 13.71) | p = 0.07 | −15.61 (−20.16, −11.05) | p < 0.00001 |
| NWAK | 0.04 (−0.26, 0.34) | p = 0.79 | −0.53 (−0.69, −0.38) | p < 0.00001 |
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Leite, I.P.A.; Kakazu, V.A.; de Carvalho, L.A.T.; Tufik, S.; Pires, G.N. Effects of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Self-Reported Sleep Parameters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clocks & Sleep 2025, 7, 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep7040069
Leite IPA, Kakazu VA, de Carvalho LAT, Tufik S, Pires GN. Effects of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Self-Reported Sleep Parameters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clocks & Sleep. 2025; 7(4):69. https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep7040069
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeite, Ingrid Porto Araújo, Viviane Akemi Kakazu, Lucca Andrade Teixeira de Carvalho, Sergio Tufik, and Gabriel Natan Pires. 2025. "Effects of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Self-Reported Sleep Parameters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" Clocks & Sleep 7, no. 4: 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep7040069
APA StyleLeite, I. P. A., Kakazu, V. A., de Carvalho, L. A. T., Tufik, S., & Pires, G. N. (2025). Effects of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Self-Reported Sleep Parameters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clocks & Sleep, 7(4), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep7040069
