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Abstract
Insomnia is a common feature among individuals with anxiety disorders. Studies of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety report moderate effects on concomitant insomnia symptoms, but further research is still needed especially toward understanding how CBT for anxiety renders beneficial effects on insomnia. The current study examined changes in insomnia symptoms reported by 51 Veterans who participated in a group-based transdiagnostic CBT for anxiety intervention. In addition, insomnia symptoms were examined in relation to symptoms of general distress (GD), anhedonic depression (AD), and anxious arousal (AA) pre- to post-treatment. Results revealed a small, though statistically significant (p < .05) beneficial effect on insomnia symptoms. When changes in GD, AD, and AA were simultaneously examined in relation to changes in insomnia, change in AA was the only significant predictor of insomnia symptoms. The current study highlights the role of AA in the relationship between anxiety disorders and insomnia and demonstrates that reductions in insomnia during transdiagnostic CBT for anxiety can be largely attributed to changes in AA.
Acknowledgments
Training in transdiagnostic group cognitive-behavioral therapy of anxiety by Dr. Peter Norton was supported by a Clinical Scientist Training Initiative Award issued to the VA San Diego Psychology Service by the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. The contents do not reflect the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. There are no conflicts to report.
We would like to thank Dr. Peter Norton for providing training in his transdiagnostic group cognitive-behavioral therapy of anxiety protocol and for providing materials to assist in the delivery of the group treatment and the conduct of this research study. We would also like to thank Natalie Castriotta, Ph.D., Kim Roser-Kedward, LCSW, Lesley Boutah, LCSW, Kathryn Seay, M.A., and Alexandrea Harmell, M.A. who assisted with co-leading the anxiety groups included in this study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.