Medicine

Treating insomnia can help reduce the symptoms of depression

Cognitive‑behavioural therapy for insomnia can significantly reduce the severity of depressive symptoms and ensure sustained remission. Researchers from the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Western Australia have reached these conclusions. Sleep disorders are observed in approximately nine out of ten patients suffering from depression. Insomnia not only exacerbates the course of depressive states and reduces the effectiveness of standard therapy but also significantly increases the risk of relapse. At the same time, classical methods of treating depression do not always completely eliminate sleep problems.

The study, titled Sleep Well for Mood, involved 88 volunteers who experienced symptoms of depression and insomnia simultaneously. The participants completed a four‑week course of cognitive‑behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT‑I) — a short‑term structured method aimed at changing maladaptive thoughts and behavioral patterns related to sleep. The patients’ condition was assessed before the course began, immediately after its completion, and also three months later.

Upon completion of the program, the participants demonstrated not only a sustained improvement in sleep quality but also a significant reduction in the level of depressive symptoms. In particular, patients reported a decrease in fixation on everyday negative events, a reduction in anxiety about sleep, and an increase in engagement in physical and social activities.

The authors of the study emphasize that cognitive‑behavioral therapy for insomnia is a cost‑effective approach that can influence the underlying mechanisms of depression development. Widespread implementation of this method in clinical practice can improve long‑term recovery rates and reduce the burden on the healthcare system associated with recurrent depressive episodes.

Published

October, 2026

Updated

October 2026