Effectiveness of Brief Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia on Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life, and Sleep: A Randomized Pilot Trial

Introduction Sleep disorders and psychiatric diseases are public health problems that have increased due to the COVID-19 lockdown. In Mexico, telemedicine was a frequently used treatment modality under the circumstances of the lockdown. The present study aimed to test the effectiveness of brief behavioral intervention for improving symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, and depression and increasing quality of life in patients who survived the COVID-19 infection. Method A randomized, parallel-group equivalence clinical trial was conducted without a passive control group. Pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up measurements were taken. The intervention consisted of four weekly sessions lasting 50 minutes each. Five questionnaires were applied: Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), SF-36 Health Questionnaire (SF36), and a sleep diary. Results In both therapy modalities, significant improvement was identified (p < 0.05) in ISI (14.57 vs 5.57), ICSP (12.43 vs 4.86), GAD-7 (13.00 vs 5.29), PHQ-9 (15.86 vs 5.00), and SF-36 (30.00 vs 77.14) scores, which coincided with sleep diary measurements. Conclusion Both intervention modalities were effective, indicating that teleconsultation is a viable treatment option for insomnia symptoms and mental health comorbidities.