Supportive psychotherapy on insomnia induced by COVID-19; Evaluation of patients and hospital staff

Introduction: The global COVID-19 pandemic has heightened stress, anxiety, and sadness, leading to increased rates of insomnia (6-10%). This study explores the effectiveness of supportive psychotherapy, specifically Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), in managing COVID-19-induced insomnia among patients and hospital staff. Method: A before-and-after design assessed the impact of supportive care by a psychiatrist on anxiety and insomnia in 18 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Four CBT-I sessions (20 minutes to an hour each) were administered. Baseline assessments included sleep efficiency, insomnia severity, and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, McNemar tests, and regression models using IBM SPSS Statistics, were employed. Results: Supportive psychotherapy significantly improved outcomes in patients. Anxiety levels decreased (mean score: 4.49 to 2.65, p = 0.038), and insomnia severity scores decreased across all three items. Sleep quality improved (mean score: 6.44 to 8.55, p = 0.005). Staff members also experienced positive outcomes, with significant reductions in anxiety (mean score: 3.88 to 2.6, p = 0.037) and improvements in insomnia severity. Sleep quality showed improvement but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.08). Conclusion: Supportive psychotherapy, particularly CBT-I, effectively reduces anxiety, improves insomnia symptoms, and enhances sleep quality in patients and staff. This approach proves valuable for managing COVID-19-induced insomnia. Larger-scale research is necessary to validate and generalize these outcomes, emphasizing the importance of CBT-I for individuals affected by the pandemic.