Savard, J., Simard, S., Ivers, H., & Morin, C. M. (2005). Randomized study on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia secondary to breast cancer, part I: sleep and psychological effects. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23, 6083–6096.

The study included eight weekly 90-minute group sessions of combined behavioral (stimulus control and sleep restriction), cognitive (cognitive restructuring), and educational (sleep hygiene, fatigue, and stress management) strategies.

Outcomes were sleep, medication use, psychological distress, and quality of life (QOL).

Patients were recruited from the community by advertisement.

The sample was comprised of 57 women who had completed radiation and chemotherapy for stage I to III breast cancer and met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria for a chronic insomnia syndrome.

Canada

Patients were undergoing the long-term follow-up phase of care.

The study was a two-group clinical trial with a wait-list control.

• Insomnia Interview Schedule (IIS)
• Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV
• Sleep diary
• Polysomnography
• Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

Treated patients showed a significantly greater improvement in sleep posttreatment as assessed by self-reported instruments. However, data from polysomnography were not significantly more improved. Treated patients reduced use of sleep medication.

• The sample was homogeneous (i.e., all white), with most being highly educated, and included a self-selected study group.
• The study used a wait-list control.
• A Master’s-level psychologist who has experience in the administration of this treatment protocol must be included.