Session Schedule

Find a specific presentation in the session by navigating to the timestamp indicated below.

0:00:00
Introduction

0:02:23
Expanding Sleep Ninja®: Findings from the adolescent trial and new adaptations for schools and younger audiences
Kate Maston (Australia)

0:23:29
SLEEPAC: Findings from a transdiagnostic multi-component sleep intervention to improve sleep & psychopathology in adolescent psychiatric outpatients
Christin Lang (Switzerland)

0:50:09
Preliminary findings from a trial evaluating Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia on Depression Symptoms and Processes in Young Adults
Cele Richardson (Australia)

1:08:23
Preliminary findings from a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial of group cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in psychiatric care
Ane Wilhelmsen-Langeland (Norway)

Summary

Sleep problems and mental health problems are inextricably linked, with sleep emerging as an important, modifiable, risk and maintenance factor for mental health problems. This symposium explores the potential of sleep treatments to improve both sleep and mental health, across the lifespan.

In the first presentation, Kate Maston (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia) summarizes the potential of Sleep Ninja®, a self-directed CBT-I intervention for adolescent insomnia, developed in Australia. The intervention includes six training sessions, each lasting 5–10 minutes, delivered via a smartphone app. Following a successful trial of Sleep Ninja®, which demonstrated significant improvements in adolescent insomnia and depression symptoms, recent adaptations have been made to tailor the Sleep Ninja® intervention for younger children to use at home with parental support, and into a teacher-delivered classroom program. This presentation will share findings from the Sleep Ninja® suite of programs, including the developmental considerations that informed these adaptations and the potential for implementation.

In the second presentation, Dr Christin Lang (University of Basel, University Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland) will present preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial of a transdiagnostic multi-component sleep intervention to improve sleep and psychopathology among adolescent psychiatric outpatients (SLEEPAC). SLEEPAC combines CBT-I, light therapy, and physical activity counselling to address sleep disturbances and psychopathology in adolescents with psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, ASD, and borderline personality disorder. The program includes six sessions delivered over three months using a blended care model (face-to-face and video calls), supported by an educational online platform. This presentation will share preliminary findings and practical insights, emphasizing the feasibility and impact of SLEEPAC in this diverse and clinically complex population.

In the third presentation, Dr Cele Richardson (University of Western Australia, Australia) will explore the utility of Bedtime Window, a self-guided interactive digital CBT-I program tailored for the Australian healthcare system. Bedtime Window is effective at improving symptoms of insomnia and depression in adults with insomnia, and insomnia co-morbid with sleep apnea. In this presentation, data will be presented from an ongoing randomized controlled trial, which aims to investigate the efficacy of Bedtime Window in young adults (18-24 years) experiencing at least moderate symptoms of depression. Data relating to sleep/insomnia, depression, and mechanisms of change (e.g., cognitive biases) will be presented.

In the final presentation, Dr Ane Wilhelmsen-Langeland (Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Western Norway University of Applied Science, Norway) will present preliminary findings from a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial of group Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for sleep problems in adult psychiatric outpatients. Despite being the treatment of choice, CBT-I is rarely delivered in psychiatric clinics. The trial aimed to investigate whether group CBT-I has a superior effect on insomnia symptoms, compared to treatment as usual (TAU), in a public outpatient psychiatric clinic. Effects on symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue, daytime functioning and well-being will also be presented. Alongside presentation of preliminary findings, this talk will include a discussion about the potential for implementation in other psychiatric clinics.