ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Providing care for a loved one can be overwhelming—physically, emotionally, and mentally, and for many caregivers, this stress often leads to sleepless nights.
However, new research from UVA Health suggests an online insomnia program may offer a solution.
It’s well-known that caregivers, who provide critical support to family members with disabling illnesses, frequently struggle with sleep.
Kelly Shaffer, clinical psychologist at UVA Health, and a researcher involved in the study, said the prevalence of insomnia among caregivers is significantly higher than that of the general population.
“We know that insomnia is a really significant problem for this population,” said Shaffer. “It’s multiple times higher in caregivers than the general population.”
Approximately one in six Americans provides care for a loved one, a role that can leave many stressed and sleep-deprived.
“We know that this program works really well,” said Shaffer. “It’s been tested in 20-25 clinical trials across the US and across the world.”
The SHUTi program, or Sleep Healthy Using the Internet, is designed to provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Researchers gave the program to 100 high-intensity caregivers, and the results were clear. Those who completed it saw significant improvements in their sleep.
“We did see really exciting results,” Shaffer said. “Caregivers who used the program on average saw really significant improvements in their sleep, with meaningful impacts that flowed into other areas of their lives as well.”
Shaffer added access to traditional insomnia therapy can be limited, and the costs can be high. SHUTi, however, offers an affordable, accessible alternative. Participants in the study reported improvements in their sleep within just nine weeks of starting the program.
“It takes people with insomnia 10 years or more to get into treatment,” Shaffer noted. “So folks have been dealing with these problems for many years, and to see progress so quickly shows how powerful the treatment is.”
Although the program is not yet available for the public, researchers are hoping it will be soon.
Click here for more information on participating in the study.
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