0
0
Researchers Reveal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) as a Key to Enhancing Sleep and Mental Health for Expecting Mothers
Recent research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) can significantly improve sleep patterns and reduce postpartum depression symptoms in new mothers. Conducted by a collaborative team from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Okanagan and Vancouver campuses and the University of Calgary, the study highlights the importance of addressing sleep issues during pregnancy to enhance mental health outcomes for both mothers and their infants.
Dr. Elizabeth Keys, an Assistant Professor in UBCO’s School of Nursing and co-author of the study, emphasizes the critical nature of early intervention. “Early intervention is crucial for infant and parental mental health,” she states. “Our research explores how addressing sleep problems like insomnia can lead to better mental health outcomes for families, helping parents and their children thrive.”
CBTi is a therapeutic approach designed to identify and modify the thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that contribute to insomnia. The treatment focuses on challenging misconceptions about sleep and restructuring habits to enhance sleep quality. Dr. Keys describes CBTi as the “gold standard for the treatment of insomnia,” noting that it has consistently demonstrated improvements in depressive symptoms, often with fewer side effects than traditional antidepressant medications, making it particularly appealing for pregnant individuals.
The study involved 62 women who were assessed for insomnia and depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving CBTi or a control group. The results revealed that those who underwent CBTi during pregnancy experienced significant improvements in sleep quality and a reduction in postpartum depressive symptoms.
“We found that CBTi during pregnancy significantly improved sleep and reduced postpartum depressive symptoms for participants,” Dr. Keys explains. “These are enormously encouraging results for anyone that has struggled in those early weeks and months with their newborns.”
The findings suggest that effective treatment for insomnia during pregnancy may serve as a protective factor against postpartum depression, highlighting the need for greater accessibility to such therapies. “Our study adds to the growing evidence that treating insomnia during pregnancy is beneficial for various outcomes,” says Dr. Keys. “It’s time to explore how we can make this treatment more accessible to pregnant individuals across the country to improve sleep health equity.”
The research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from various institutions across Canada. Dr. Keys and Dr. Lianne M. Tomfohr-Madsen, a Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Intersectionality based at UBC Vancouver, serve as lead investigators for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Sleep Equity Reimagined team and are members of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium.
This groundbreaking study not only sheds light on the relationship between sleep and mental health during pregnancy but also sets the stage for future research and interventions aimed at enhancing the well-being of new mothers and their children.
