Helping People with Arthritis Sleep Well
Helping People with Arthritis Sleep Well
The Problem
People with inflammatory rheumatic diseases experience sleep difficulties at much higher rates than people from the general population. Sleep difficulties can include trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking early and being unable to get back to sleep.
The Research
This study is testing the effectiveness of an online, eight-week cognitive behavioural therapy program, initially developed for people with cancer and adapted to meet the needs of people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who have insomnia. The program aims to help participants manage their insomnia symptoms and their mental health.
The Impact
By providing an accessible, self-paced treatment option to improve sleep quality and mental health, this research will address a critical, unmet need in care for people living with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
Research Study
Research Study
Sleep difficulties, including trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and waking up early without being able to fall back asleep (all types of insomnia), are reported in up to 70% of persons living with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. This rate is three to four times higher than in the general population. Our research team has adapted an online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program to meet the needs of individuals with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The original cognitive behavioural therapy program was shown to be effective, and the latest phase of this research will test and improve it. A major benefit of an online, self-paced cognitive behavioural therapy program is its flexible and accessible nature. This study is currently recruiting participants.
Research Scientist
Research Scientist
Deborah Da Costa
Research Scientist, Psychology, PhD
Dr. Deborah Da Costa is a scientist at the Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre and an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Her research focuses on the interplay between modifiable psychosocial and behavioural (e.g. exercise) factors and health status in various chronic illnesses and in relation to depression in populations at risk. This has laid the foundation for the knowledge-transfer phase of her program which focuses on tailoring and evaluating evidence-based e-health interventions to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to optimize their health and wellness.
