Hypnosis intervention for sleep quality in caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

Poor sleep quality is a common health issue among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Behavioral interventions such as hypnosis have been proposed for improving sleep in this population since pharmacological measures can impair their ability to wake up readily to provide care. The present pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of a hypnosis intervention program for improving sleep quality in caregivers of individuals with ADRD. A sample of 21 eligible adults was randomly assigned to either a self-administered hypnosis or a sham hypnosis group. The findings indicated feasibility of accrual, randomization, and intervention delivery. The mean treatment satisfaction rating score was 8.75 (SD = 1.28) in the treatment group, on a 0-to-10 numerical rating scale (0 = highly dissatisfied, 10 = highly satisfied). The mean ease-of-use rating for the treatment procedures was 8.50 (SD = .93) in the treatment condition. Results found improvements in sleep quality and duration as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep diaries.