Combined Program of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Medication Tapering in Cancer Patients: A Clinic-Based Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

Objective: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a combined program of group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and medication tapering for reducing hypnotic use in cancer patients and to identify predictors of medication continuation. Participants: This study has a retrospective design and uses archival data from patient’s medical records. Forty cancer patients with chronic insomnia received clinic- and group-based CBT-I alongside a medication tapering program. Methods: Clinical outcomes were collected from 32 patients who completed a six-week program, via their medical records. Medication dosages, Insomnia Severity Index scores, scores on the Korean version of the 16-item Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep scale, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised inventory scores, and sleep efficiency were measured pre- and posttreatment and at a follow-up after one month. Results: At posttreatment, 68.8% of patients were drug-free and 25.0% were taking hypnotic medication at a reduced dosage or frequency. Patients who were undergoing anticancer treatment were more likely to discontinue hypnotic use than patients who were off the anticancer treatment. Overall relapse rate for sleep medication at the one-month follow-up was 4.5%. Having more somatic symptoms at baseline was a significant predictor for continuing medication after CBT-I. Conclusions: The preliminary results imply that the combined program of group-based CBT-I and medication tapering may be helpful to reduce hypnotics in cancer patients with insomnia in a clinical setting. Along with combined treatment methods, future studies could explore the effects of added treatments for the reduction of physical pain on the prevention of chronic hypnotic use.

Acknowledgments

We would like to show our gratitude to Dalnim Cho, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, for participating as a cotherapist at the beginning of the CBT program and for the preliminary analysis of some material.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.