A focus on sleep health – and what patients think of psychological interventions for insomnia

In this episode, we talk to Dr Erin Oldenhof, Research Coordinator and a benzodiazepine withdrawal counsellor at Reconnexion, a non-profit organisation that offers teratmenta nd support for insomnia, depression and anxiety. We’re also joined by Dr Petra Staiger, Associate Professor within the School of Psychology at Deakin University in Melbourne. Title of paper: “Let’s talk about sleep health”: Patient perspectives on willingness to engage in psychological interventions for insomniaAvailable at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0310Psychological interventions for insomnia are recommended as the first-line treatment but remain underutilised in primary care settings relative to pharmacological treatments. Coupled with known harms regarding prolonged use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) to manage insomnia, the need for increased uptake of psychological interventions is critical. This study explored the influence of key factors that motivate individuals’ intention to engage with psychological interventions, revealing the importance of active involvement of GPs in this process from the initial consultation through to supporting treatment adherence long-term. By understanding the consumer perspective in conjunction with the unique clinical expertise of GPs, we have offered guidance on how to enhance patient-practitioner collaboration across the entire treatment process and increase GP confidence to facilitate increased engagement with evidence-based psychological treatment modalities.