Testing an Online Program for Managing Insomnia in Inflammatory Arthritis

Overview 

Sleep difficulties, including trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and/or 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 (Da Costa D et al., 2005; Lederman et al., 2008, Inoue et al., 2017; Nie et al., 2018; Halioua et al., 2022), a rate that is 3-4 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 having trouble sleeping. The original CBT program was shown to be effective (Savard et al., 2015). A major benefit of an online, self-paced CBT program is its flexible and accessible nature.

What will be done?

Participants with inflammatory arthritis will participate in a randomized controlled trial testing the CBT program. The information provided by participants on surveys will help us adapt and improve the program even more to meet the needs of persons living with arthritis who suffer from insomnia.

Participation in this study involves: 

• 3 surveys where we ask participants about their demographic information, sleep, health, mental health and satisfaction with the program. A survey, which takes around 30-40 minutes, will be taken at study entry and twice after the CBT (once to be completed right after finishing the CBT and the other, 1 month later).
• The 8-week, online CBT program offering psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioural strategies to help participants manage their symptoms of insomnia and their mental health.
• Participants will receive a $10 gift card after completing each survey (meaning participants will receive $30 in total by the end).

You may be eligible if you:

Have an inflammatory rheumatic condition including but not limited to:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Other spondyloarthropathies
• Lupus
• Other inflammatory rheumatic conditions

We are recruiting participants for our study on inflammatory rheumatic conditions and sleep. If osteoarthritis is the only type of arthritis you have, you won’t be able to join the study. If you have osteoarthritis and a type of inflammatory arthritis, you are eligible for the study (as long as you also meet the following criteria)

• Are between 18 – 80 years of age.
• Are a Canadian resident.
• Are experiencing trouble sleeping and suspect you might have insomnia (we will assess this portion of the eligibility criteria over a short phone call).

Want to find out more?

Website: www.reposestudy.ca

If you think you might be interested in participating, visit our website to answer a few quick questions about yourself and a member from the research team will contact you.

Email: REPOSE@rimuhc.ca

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us.

The Research Team 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Deborah Da Costa

Co-Investigators: Dr. Josée Savard, Dr. Paul Fortin, Dr. Diane Lacaille and Dr. Elham Rahme

Dr. Da Costa’s research team: Rebecca Wickett, Nicole Anderson, Emilie McGuire and others

This study has been approved by:

McGill University Health Center Research Ethics Board

Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) & the Canadian Initiative for Outcomes in Rheumatology cAre (CIORA)