Cognitive behavioral therapy vs. Tai Chi for late life insomnia and inflammatory risk: a randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial.

TitleCognitive behavioral therapy vs. Tai Chi for late life insomnia and inflammatory risk: a randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsIrwin MR, Olmstead R, Carrillo C, Sadeghi N, Breen EC, Witarama T, Yokomizo M, Lavretsky H, Carroll JE, Motivala SJ, Bootzin R, Nicassio P
JournalSleep
Volume37
Issue9
Pagination1543-52
Date Published2014 Sep
ISSN1550-9109
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, C-Reactive Protein, Cognitive Therapy, Depression, Fatigue, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Los Angeles, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Education as Topic, Polysomnography, Risk, Sleep, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Tai Ji, Treatment Outcome
Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the comparative efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Tai Chi Chih (TCC), and sleep seminar education control (SS) on the primary outcome of insomnia diagnosis, and secondary outcomes of sleep quality, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and inflammation in older adults with insomnia.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled, comparative efficacy trial.

SETTING: Los Angeles community.

PATIENTS: 123 older adults with chronic and primary insomnia.

INTERVENTIONS: Random assignment to CBT, TCC, or SS for 2-hour group sessions weekly over 4 months with follow-up at 7 and 16 months.

MEASUREMENTS: Insomnia diagnosis, patient-reported outcomes, polysomnography (PSG), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

RESULTS: CBT performed better than TCC and SS in remission of clinical insomnia as ascertained by a clinician (P < 0.01), and also showed greater and more sustained improvement in sleep quality, sleep parameters, fatigue, and depressive symptoms than TCC and SS (all P values < 0.01). As compared to SS, CBT was associated with a reduced risk of high CRP levels (> 3.0 mg/L) at 16 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.26 [95% CI, 0.07-0.97] P < 0.05). Remission of insomnia was associated with lower levels of CRP (P < 0.05) at 16 months. TCC was associated with improvements in sleep quality, fatigue, and depressive symptoms as compared to SS (all P's < 0.05), but not insomnia remission. PSG measures did not change.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of late-life insomnia is better achieved and sustained by cognitive behavioral therapies. Insomnia treatment and remission reduces a marker of inflammatory risk, which has implications for cardiovascular morbidity and diabetes observed with sleep disturbance in epidemiologic surveys.

DOI10.5665/sleep.4008
Alternate JournalSleep
PubMed ID25142571
PubMed Central IDPMC4153053
Grant ListP30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States