This course was presented in person at World Sleep 2025 in Singapore.

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Session Schedule

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

0:00:00
Introduction

0:01:13
Insomnia subtypes: Exploring links to demographic factors, mood problems, alcohol use and hypnotic medications
Bjørn Bjorvatn (Norway)

0:19:24
Insomnia with objective short sleep duration: Pathophysiology, consequences and response to CBT-I
Julio Fernandez-Mendoza (United States)

0:46:55
Digital multi-modal approaches for sub-typing insomnia disorder
Jihui Zhang (China)

1:08:10
Sub-typing insomnia for predicting response towards cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
Rachel Chan (Hong Kong)

1:27:49
Question and answer

Summary

Insomnia disorder is a heterogeneous condition with proposed subtypes based on various characteristics. Evidence suggests significant differences between these subtypes regarding demographic factors, sleep parameters, mood symptoms, and specific complaints. Importantly, several insomnia phenotypes tend to show blunted response to cognitive behavioral therapy. Therefore, identifying clinically relevant subtypes of insomnia is crucial, as this can provide important insights for formulating individualized treatment strategies. Tailoring interventions based on subtype characteristics may enhance treatment efficacy and address the unique needs of patients. Furthermore, understanding these differences can guide clinicians in selecting appropriate therapeutic approaches, whether through cognitive-behavioral therapy, pharmacological options, or lifestyle modifications. This symposium will present evidence on the various insomnia subtypes, their characteristics, consequences, and the differences in their responses to treatment.

Prof. Bjørn Bjorvatn from Norway will present findings from a large-scale cross-sectional study examining various insomnia subtypes in relation to demographic characteristics, mood symptoms, and medication usage. The evidence indicates that patients with a combination of different insomnia subtypes experience poorer outcomes compared to those with more homogeneous subtypes. The presentation will also explore the potential for implementing a simple and clinically applicable classification system for insomnia subtypes in clinical settings, aimed at informing treatment options effectively.
Prof. Fernandez-Mendoza from USA will discuss insomnia sub-typing based on objective sleep measures. The presentation will reveal that patients with objectively short sleep duration are linked to more adverse cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes, representing a more severe biological phenotype of insomnia. This specific insomnia phenotype tends to exhibit a blunted response to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). The presentation will also include evidence supporting the need for adaptations and modifications in treatment for insomnia patients with objectively short sleep duration.
Prof. Zhang from China will present evidence from a multi-center study on insomnia phenotyping through multimodal assessment. Preliminary findings indicate that insomnia patients experiencing circadian disruptions or mood disorders represent distinct phenotypes associated with more severe health outcomes. The presentation will discuss the potential for employing a transdiagnostic approach to address the needs of these specific insomnia subtypes, aiming for more effective treatment strategies.
Prof. Chan from Hong Kong, China will present findings from secondary analysis of CBT-I trials involving adolescents and young adults. The findings suggest that insomnia patients displaying characteristics such as mood symptoms, eveningness, and daytime impairment respond differently to CBT-I. The talk will also address evidence on how to tailor CBT-I treatments to meet individual needs, enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.