Learning goals:
1) After reading the literature and attending the lecture the student can describe and explain the
interrelation between insomnia and mental disorders
Insomnia = related to higher occurrence of mental disorders
1. Mostly related to major depression, followed by anxiety disorders n alcohol abuse
2. Insomnia not secondary to depression
a. It is a risk factor for depression
b. Depression treatment not sufficient remedy for insomnia
c. Insomnia hinders recovery from depression
d. Residual insomnia increases risk for depression relapse
e. Contributes to etiology n trajectory of depression
f. Commonly precedes depression n increases odds of its development
3. DSM changes
a. Insomnia can and should be diagnosed as comorbid, not secondary
2) After reading the literature and attending this lecture the student can explain how cognitive and
behavioral therapies can be applied in the treatment and prevention of insomnia
CBT for insomnia
1. superior long-term effects, compared to sleep meds
2. overall more beneficial than CBT for depression
a. larger effects on insomnia, similar effects on depression
3. benefits maintained 3 years after treatment
- Digital CBT for insomnia = depression prevention
1. Fully automated n accessible
2. Depression severity reduced by 50% acutely following 6 weekly sessions
3. May achieve secondary n tertiary prevention by increasing widespread access to
treatment that interrupts progression toward more persistent n recurrent depression
4. May prevent it by reducing or eliminating insomnia as premorbid risk factor
5. Reduced risk of developing depression by half
3) After reading the literature and attending the lecture the student can explain how insomnia may
contribute to emotional distress/mental disorders
Insomnia = genetically n phenotypically related to anxiety disorders
1. Key involvement in emotion regulation
2. Chronic state of hyperarousal; resembles state of emotional distress
3. May involve a deficiency to downregulate emotional distress across the night
- Sleep = role in overnight emotion regulation
1. Reexposure to emotional stimulus after sleep
a. Less emotional distress
b. Less autonomic arousal
c. Less activation of amygdala
1) After reading the literature and attending the lecture the student can describe and explain the
interrelation between insomnia and mental disorders
Insomnia = related to higher occurrence of mental disorders
1. Mostly related to major depression, followed by anxiety disorders n alcohol abuse
2. Insomnia not secondary to depression
a. It is a risk factor for depression
b. Depression treatment not sufficient remedy for insomnia
c. Insomnia hinders recovery from depression
d. Residual insomnia increases risk for depression relapse
e. Contributes to etiology n trajectory of depression
f. Commonly precedes depression n increases odds of its development
3. DSM changes
a. Insomnia can and should be diagnosed as comorbid, not secondary
2) After reading the literature and attending this lecture the student can explain how cognitive and
behavioral therapies can be applied in the treatment and prevention of insomnia
CBT for insomnia
1. superior long-term effects, compared to sleep meds
2. overall more beneficial than CBT for depression
a. larger effects on insomnia, similar effects on depression
3. benefits maintained 3 years after treatment
- Digital CBT for insomnia = depression prevention
1. Fully automated n accessible
2. Depression severity reduced by 50% acutely following 6 weekly sessions
3. May achieve secondary n tertiary prevention by increasing widespread access to
treatment that interrupts progression toward more persistent n recurrent depression
4. May prevent it by reducing or eliminating insomnia as premorbid risk factor
5. Reduced risk of developing depression by half
3) After reading the literature and attending the lecture the student can explain how insomnia may
contribute to emotional distress/mental disorders
Insomnia = genetically n phenotypically related to anxiety disorders
1. Key involvement in emotion regulation
2. Chronic state of hyperarousal; resembles state of emotional distress
3. May involve a deficiency to downregulate emotional distress across the night
- Sleep = role in overnight emotion regulation
1. Reexposure to emotional stimulus after sleep
a. Less emotional distress
b. Less autonomic arousal
c. Less activation of amygdala
