Insomnia Treatment Preferences in MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Insomnia Treatment Preferences in Multiple Sclerosis Study
IRAS ID
347578
Contact name
David C Gillespie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 4 days
Research summary
People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) often experience difficulties with sleep. About one in four has insomnia. Insomnia may be especially prevalent early in the disease course, though evidence is limited. Poor sleep affects quality of life. And yet, how to treat sleep difficulties in pwMS, including individuals’ treatment preferences, has received little attention.
One of the most effective treatments for sleep difficulties is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-i). There is a large evidence base for its effectiveness in the general population. There have been only four studies of CBT-i in pwMS. Though results have been encouraging, it has been pointed out that CBT-i has yet to be tailored to the needs/preferences of pwMS and so may not have been delivered in ‘optimal’ formats.
Why the need to tailor CBT-i for pwMS? An important reason is that CBT-i has different 'ingredients'. Examples include relaxation strategies and setting limits to time spent in bed. Some CBT-i approaches may be quite difficult to put into practice with the types of problems (e.g. mobility, pain, concentration) pwMS might experience.
This study seeks to find out (via survey) which of the different CBT-i ingredients people prefer, including how much therapist support they believe is required to put them into practice and whether sleep preferences differ according to length of time since MS diagnosis and psychological wellbeing. It also seeks to understand (via interviews with those with most sleep disturbance) why pwMS have the preferences they do, developing an in-depth understanding of their beliefs about insomnia and the things that improve or worsen their sleep. The knowledge will allow therapists and researchers to adapt CBT-i for pWMS, and put the right support in place when they offer CBT-i. This will hopefully make treatment more effective.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1359
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion