Objective Impact on Sleep and Daytime Functioning of Sleep Restriction Therapy

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Project title Objective Impact on Sleep and Daytime Functioning of Sleep Restriction Therapy: a Brief Behavioural Intervention for Persistent Insomnia.
Funding body Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorates
Total funding £49,505
Team 
  • Professor Colin Espie, University of Glasgow Sleep Centre (chief investigator)
  • Dr Simon Kyle, Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester
  • Christine Salveta, University of Glasgow Sleep Centre
  • Professor Niroshan Siriwardena, University of Lincoln.
Overarching aim The study aimed to:

  • Rigorously test sleep restriction (SR), and so to provide an objective evidence base for its impact on sleep and daytime functioning
  • Evaluate the relationship between subjective and objective sleep and establish the optimal regime for adherence and the minimisation of adverse side-effects when advising on its use.
Objectives  The study sought to test the following hypotheses:

  • Sleep restriction therapy leads to objective improvements in sleep parameters, namely polysomnographic (PSG)-defined sleep-onset latency (SOL), wake-time after sleep-onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE)
  • Sleep restriction modifies homeostatic pressure as measured by delta power during NREM sleep. And these changes relate to subjective improvements in sleep parameters
  • Sleep restriction impairs vigilance levels (as measured by psychomotor RT tasks) and higher cognitive abilities during acute implementation.
Methods A within subjects repeated measures design with major in-lab sleep evaluations, included:

  • Neuro-cognitive testing, conducted at baseline, and at three points during SR treatment
  • Self-report data on sleep and daytime functioning, along with a log of treatment experiences including side-effects gathered continuously over the experimental period
  • Exit interviews three months after completion of the acute treatment phase to gather follow-up data.
Outcomes 
  • Primary outcomes related to changes to objectively defined sleep continuity and architecture and objective daytime functioning (neuropsychological performance)
  • Secondary outcomes related to subjective sleep and daytime functioning/quality of life variables.
Outputs

Peer reviewed publications:

The research paper from this study has been cited over 70 times.

Impact 
  • This work has helped us understand the therapeutic action of sleep restriction therapy, potential adverse effects and how to deliver treatment in a safe and effective manner.

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