Improvement in Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms Following an Internet-based Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia: An Open Trial among Rural Appalachian Women

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2023;34(3):1060-1069.

Abstract

Appalachian women face significant health disparities and have limited access to health care. Mental health conditions and treatment-seeking are stigmatized in Appalachian communities. Appalachian women may benefit from web-based interventions targeting less stigmatized health complaints (e.g., insomnia), while simultaneously yielding benefit in associated mental health conditions including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, 37 trauma-exposed adult women aged 45 and older from rural Appalachian Kentucky completed a six-session online self-administered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) intervention and completed measures of PTSD symptoms, insomnia, and depression at pre- and post-treatment. Participants reported a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms from pre- to post-intervention, and this remained significant after adjusting for severity of insomnia and depression pre-treatment. Pending replication in a randomized controlled trial, web-based CBT-I may offer an adjunctive mental health treatment option that circumvents cultural stigmas and reduces PTSD symptoms for trauma-exposed Appalachian women.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Internet-Based Intervention*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / therapy
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy