Feasibility and Acceptability of Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia After Eating Disorder Treatment: The TIRED Study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this pilot trial was to evaluate the novel use of Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBTI) for people with residual insomnia disorder following eating disorder (ED) treatment.

Methods: Participants (N = 6) completed a multiple-baseline design study of BBTI. The primary outcome was insomnia severity, measured by the Insomnia Severity Index. Secondary outcomes included sleep efficiency and daytime fatigue. Exploratory outcomes were ED-related impairment and symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms.

Results: BBTI reduced insomnia symptom severity from baseline to end of treatment. BBTI also resulted in improvements in sleep efficiency and reductions in daytime fatigue. ED-related and other psychopathology outcomes largely did not change.

Discussion: BBTI showed preliminary evidence of efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility among people with residual insomnia following ED treatment. Future studies should use randomized controlled designs to better elicit the effects of BBTI on ED-related outcomes.

Keywords: behavioral therapy; eating disorders; insomnia; multiple baseline design; single‐case experimental design.