Brief Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia in a CAMHS setting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Brief Behavioural Treatment for Insomnia as a Waiting List CAMHS Intervention: A Single Case Experimental Design
IRAS ID
347860
Contact name
Nathalie Nijs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 15 days
Research summary
Insomnia can occur on its own but is common in people who experience other mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Research suggests that insomnia should be a specific target for treatment when it is present, rather than being viewed as a side effect of a co-occurring mental health condition. In practice however, psychologists are likely to focus limited time and resources on treating the main mental health difficulty. Left untreated, insomnia could make it more difficult to engage in psychological therapy in the first place and can leave someone more vulnerable to relapse following therapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is currently the most researched psychological therapy for insomnia. Brief Behavioural Treatment for Insomnia (BBT-I) was developed by condensing CBT-I to make it a shorter and acceptable intervention.
In a healthcare context with limited resources and long waiting time, BBT-I has the potential to embed as a waiting-list intervention. In a Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) setting, this model could give young people and families the opportunity to learn about the importance of sleep and equip them with practical knowledge and tools to maximise healthy sleep, whilst they wait for other treatment.
This study proposes trialing a 4-session Brief Behavioural Treatment for Insomnia intervention with young people aged twelve to eighteen. Participants will be recruited from the waiting list of the Aberdeen Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Teenagers who are waiting for psychological therapy for anxiety and/or depression and also have insomnia, will be invited to take part in BBT-I. The study will investigate whether BBT-I improves sleep and mental health symptoms in teenagers who also have anxiety and/or depression. The study will also investigate whether BBT-I is a possible and acceptable therapy in this setting.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
25/WS/0140
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion