Eduard Jan de Bruin*, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Frans J Oort, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Susan M Bögels, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Anne Marie Meijer*, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Track: Research Presentation Topic: Public (e-)health, population health technologies, surveillance Presentation Type: Oral presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Mermaid Room: Room 2 - Aldgate/Bishopsgate Date: 2013-09-23 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Background and objective: Many adolescents suffer from insufficient or unsatisfactory sleep due to insomnia symptoms, but adolescents are less likely than adults to access care-as-usual methods for treatment. Online treatment programs have shown to be as effective as other methods of treatment, and offer a viable alternative to reach youth and provide adequate treatment.

Methods: We developed a website for online treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), and adapted the protocol for use in an online setting with age-appropriate exercises. Adolescents were recruited through newspaper articles and online newsletters for youth healthcare professionals. Two groups of 61 adolescents in total (mean age15.4, SD1.33; boys 18%) were randomly assigned to a waiting list control condition or a treatment condition. The treatment group was treated with the online CBT-I protocol in 6 weekly consults. Both groups were assessed at baseline and post treatment. Insomnia complaints and chronic sleep reduction were measured with questionnaires, and sleep parameters were measured, with objective (actigraphy) and subjective (sleep logs) measurements.

Results: There was a significantly higher decrease for the treatment condition of scores on the insomnia scale of the Holland Sleep Disorder Questionnaire (p<.01) and of the scores on the Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire (p<.05).
Results from sleep parameters show a significant decrease in sleep onset latency (p<.001), and a significant increase in total sleep time (p<.05) and sleep efficiency (p<.001) for the treatment condition but not for the waiting list condition. Furthermore the majority of the participants commented favorably on the content and mode of treatment through an online website.

Conclusion: Internet treatment of sleep problems of adolescents shows strong improvements in sleep parameters and a large decrease of insomnia complaints and symptoms, and is a feasible alternative for care-as-usual.