Cited by 422Sleep and related disordersPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

“Stepped care”: a health technology solution for delivering cognitive behavioral therapy as a first line insomnia treatment

Open access
Espie, Colin A.·2009·SLEEP

Abstract

There is a large body of evidence that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBT) is an effective treatment for persistent insomnia. However, despite two decades of research it is still not readily available, and there are no immediate signs that this situation is about to change. This paper proposes that a service delivery model, based on "stepped care" principles, would enable this relatively scarce healthcare expertise to be applied in a cost-effective way to achieve optimal development of CBT services and best clinical care. The research evidence on methods of delivering CBT, and the associated clinical leadership roles, is reviewed. On this basis, self-administered CBT is posited as the "entry level" treatment for stepped care, with manualized, small group, CBT delivered by nurses, at the next level. Overall, a hierarchy comprising five levels of CBT stepped care is suggested. Allocation to a particular level should reflect assessed need, which in turn represents increased resource requirement in terms of time, cost and expertise. Stepped care models must also be capable of "referring" people upstream where there is an incomplete therapeutic response to a lower level intervention. Ultimately, the challenge is for CBT to be delivered competently and effectively in diversified formats on a whole population basis. That is, it needs to become "scalable". This will require a robust approach to clinical governance.

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Crossref · 10.1093/sleep/32.12.1549

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Murtagh DRR, Greenwood KM. Identifying Effective Psychological Treatments for Insomnia -A Metaanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1995;63:79-89.
  2. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Guidance on the use of zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for short-term management of insomnia. London: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2004;77: 27p.
  3. Currie S. Self-help therapies for insomnia. In: Watkins P, Clum G, eds. Handbook of self-help therapies. Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2008: 215-41.

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Authors
Espie, C. A.
Affiliations
Southern General Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Espie, Colin A.
Venue
SLEEP
Published
2009-12
Volume
32
Issue
12
Pages
1549-1558
ISSN
  • 0161-8105 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-9109
OpenAlex
W1215988363
Cited by
422
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 18
FWCI
2.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • SLEEP (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Cancer Research UK
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
stepped care, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, insomnia treatment, service delivery models, manualized intervention, referral, scalability, clinical governance, cost-effectiveness
MeSH terms
Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Patient Care Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Biomedical Technology

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