Objectives(s): The investigators are conducting a randomized, controlled trial of Veterans with PTSD and chronic insomnia to determine if cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) administered by video teleconferencing is not clinically inferior to in-person treatment in terms of improvement in insomnia symptoms. Secondary aims are 1) comparing the differences in cost and quality-adjusted life years between the treatment delivery approaches and 2) determining the effectiveness of CBT-I on functional outcomes, sleep quality, and non-sleep-related PTSD symptoms. The investigators are also conducting a patient- and provider-focused formative evaluation of CBT-I delivery by video teleconferencing to assess potential barriers to its widespread implementation.
Research Design: This prospective randomized controlled non-inferiority study will determine if Veterans with PTSD and chronic insomnia receiving CBT-I by video teleconferencing have an improvement in insomnia severity, as determined by change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score, that is not clinically inferior to that in Veterans receiving in-person CBT-I. Differences in cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) between groups will also be compared.
Methodology: Veterans with PTSD and chronic insomnia receiving their primary care at community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC) affiliated with the Philadelphia VAMC are be randomized to receive one of the following interventions in a group setting at their CBOC: 1) a manual-based CBT-I program delivered via video teleconferencing, 2) the CBT-I program delivered in-person, and 3) in-person delivery of sleep hygiene education, a known active control intervention. Participants are assessed at baseline, and 2 weeks and every 3 months following the intervention. The primary outcome measure in Aim 1 is the change in the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score at 6 months following intervention. Non-inferiority analysis will be used to compare the effectiveness of the two delivery methods, with a pre-specified margin. Results will be ascertained via intent to treat and per-protocol procedures. The investigators hypothesize that the change in ISI score following CBT-I by video teleconferencing will not be clinically inferior to that following in-person delivery. In Aim 2, VA and non-VA total healthcare costs are being collected to test whether average cost is lower for Veterans receiving CBT-I by video teleconferencing versus in-person care. Preference is being assessed by the EuroQol and Health Utilities Index 2. Differences in the ratio of cost and quality-adjusted life years saved between CBT-I by video teleconferencing and in-person encounter will be compared to test the hypothesis that video teleconferencing will have lower cost and equivalent outcomes. Aim 3 is assessing the effect of CBT-I on functional outcomes (Short Form-12, Work and Social Adjustment Scale), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, sleep diary and wrist actigraphy), and PTSD severity (the non-sleep component of the PTSD Checklist-Military). The investigators hypothesize that these functional outcomes and sleep quality measures will improve following each method of CBT-I delivery and that CBT-I will improve non-sleep-related PTSD severity. The formative evaluation of the telemedicine delivery of CBT-I in Aim 4 is using qualitative (targeted focus groups with participants and therapist interviews) and quantitative measures (Work Alliance Inventory, Treatment Credibility Scale, attrition) that will help guide future implementation of CBT-I by video teleconferencing
Anticipated Findings: The investigators believe these results will demonstrate that: 1) Veterans in both CBT-I groups will have similar improvement in functional outcomes, and 2) treatment delivery by video teleconferencing will be more cost effective than in-person care. These findings should lead to wider acceptance of video teleconferencing, thereby increasing patient access to care and reducing treatment costs.
