Do non-pharmacological sleep interventions affect anxiety symptoms? A meta-analysis

Staines, Alex Catherine, Broomfield, Niall ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2599-3435, Pass, Laura, Orchard, Faith and Bridges, Jessica (2022) Do non-pharmacological sleep interventions affect anxiety symptoms? A meta-analysis. Journal of Sleep Research, 31 (1). ISSN 0962-1105

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Abstract

Research indicates a bidirectional relationship between sleep and anxiety, with findings suggesting anxiety can precede poor sleep and vice versa. Evidence suggests sleep-related thought processes associated with anxiety are involved in the maintenance of insomnia. Previous meta-analyses provide some evidence to suggest cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia moderately improves anxiety, yet little research has investigated the effect of other sleep interventions on anxiety symptoms. The aim of this meta-analysis was to review whether non-pharmacological sleep interventions have an impact on anxiety symptoms immediately post-intervention. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify all randomized control trials (RCTs) investigating non-pharmacological sleep interventions that included anxiety symptoms as an outcome. Forty-three RCTs (n = 5945) met full inclusion criteria and were included in a random-effects meta-analysis model. The combined effect size of non-pharmacological sleep interventions on anxiety symptoms was moderate (Hedges’ g = −0.38), indicating a reduction in symptoms. Subgroup analyses found a moderate effect for those with additional physical health difficulties (g = −0.46), a moderate effect for those with additional mental health difficulties (g = −0.47) and a moderate effect for those with elevated levels of anxiety at baseline (g = −0.43). A secondary meta-analysis found a large effect of non-pharmacological sleep interventions on sleep-related thought processes (g = −0.92). These findings indicate non-pharmacological sleep interventions are effective in reducing anxiety and sleep-related thought processes, and these effects may be larger in patients with anxiety. This has clinical implications for considering sleep interventions in the treatment of anxiety.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: adults,cognition,mental health,mood,treatment effectiveness,cognitive neuroscience,behavioral neuroscience,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2800/2805
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 22 Jul 2021 00:07
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 03:03
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/80683
DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13451

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