Treatment preferences and help seeking experiences of Australian adults with insomnia

Bibliographic Data

ID11511315
AuthorsJenny Haycock (0000-0003-4571-9871, Flinders University, corresponding author), Leon Lack (0000-0002-8505-5873, Flinders University), Elizabeth Hoon (0000-0002-7077-7902, Flinders University), Alexander Sweetman (0000-0002-7900-1414, Flinders University), Sarah L Appleton (0000-0001-7292-9714, Flinders University), Sarah Appleton (Flinders University), Kelly A Loffler (0000-0003-3302-5995, Flinders University), Hannah Scott (0000-0002-9827-2850, Flinders University), Nicole Lovato (0000-0001-8990-6658, Flinders University)
Year2025
Volume61
Issue2
Pages1-14
Publication date2025-08-17
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0005-0067 • E-ISSN: 1742-9544
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00050067.2025.2534388
OpenAlexW4413300272
LanguageEN
References cited52

Evidence-based insomnia guidelines recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) as the first-line treatment. However, many people with insomnia are prescribed sedative-hypnotic medications. To understand this gap between guidelines and practice, this study surveyed people seeking treatment for insomnia about their help-seeking experiences and treatment preferences. Australian adults who had previously expressed interest in a clinical trial of insomnia treatments were invited to complete a detailed online survey assessing their sleep difficulties, help seeking behaviours, and treatment preferences. Among 745 adults responding to the survey (Mean±SD = 54 ± 13 years, 69% Female), 74.5% reported an Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score ≥ 15 indicating clinical insomnia symptoms and only 3 people (0.4%) reported receiving CBTi which included behavioural components. Among respondents with clinical insomnia symptoms, 64% had discussed sleep with their general practitioner but only 16% saw a psychologist about their sleep. Lack of referral to a psychologist (44%) and concerns about costs associated with treatment (21%) were the main reasons for not seeing a psychologist. These findings highlight opportunities to directly address barriers in the management of insomnia. To improve access and use of CBTi it is important to increase public awareness and availability so more people with insomnia can access effective treatment. What is already known about this topic: (1) CBTi is the recommended first-line treatment for insomnia, but most people do not receive this evidence-based treatment. (2) People with insomnia commonly rely on medications or self-care strategies. (3) Help seeking behaviours and treatment preferences of people with insomnia are not well understood. What this topic adds: (1) Less than 1% of adults in Australia with clinical insomnia symptoms receive CBTi treatment which includes behavioural components. (2) The general public and health professionals need education about the priority of sleep and value of behavioural and cognitive treatments for insomnia. (3) Access to CBTi needs to be improved, more health professionals need to be trained to deliver CBTi and different treatment options need to be considered to improve availability and affordability

Help-seeking · Insomnia · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Sleep and Wakefulness Research · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access