Uptake of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTI) as first-line therapy of chronic insomnia has been restricted by a shortage of trained therapists, access barriers, and limited awareness of self-help alternatives. Self-help CBTI has emerged as a practical alternative, offering ready access, convenience, and dissemination and scalability efficiency. Yet, evidence syntheses of limited data have suggested its effectiveness and acceptability may be inferior to face-to-face CBTI and others have questioned its fidelity with CBTI standards.
This paper conducts a scoping review to map and characterize self-help CBTI research, focusing on its core components, delivery methods, use of coaching support, and growth. Findings revealed that self-help CBTI maintained the essential core components (time-in-bed restriction, stimulus control, relaxation techniques, cognitive therapy, and sleep hygiene/education) and structure of conventional CBTI with many, but not all, including different types and formats of coaching support.
If you have questions about the efficacy of self-directed CBTI apps and online programs, this paper, published in Feb 2025, is one of the most current research reviews on the topic.