Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy
Background/Objectives: Based on previous data reporting the status of health professionals’ training about sleep clinical psychophysiology, insomnia, and its treatment in the US and Canada, this paper aims at providing a snapshot of the Italian situation, considering health professionals qualified t...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Chiara Baglioni Andrea Galbiati Debora Meneo Greta Cavadini Francesca Gelfo Francesco Mancini Carlo Buonanno |
| author_facet | Chiara Baglioni Andrea Galbiati Debora Meneo Greta Cavadini Francesca Gelfo Francesco Mancini Carlo Buonanno |
| author_sort | Chiara Baglioni |
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| description | Background/Objectives: Based on previous data reporting the status of health professionals’ training about sleep clinical psychophysiology, insomnia, and its treatment in the US and Canada, this paper aims at providing a snapshot of the Italian situation, considering health professionals qualified to offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Adding information on different countries is important, as national health systems differ significantly, and distinct evidence-based pathways for change may be proposed. Methods: Two hundred and thirteen CBT professionals (180 females; 33 males) answered a 5 min survey about their training and experience in recognizing and treating behavioral sleep disorders in their practice. The questionnaire was diffused through the mailing list of the Italian Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Society (Società Italiana di Terapia Comportamentale e Cognitiva, SITCC) throughout December 2023 and January 2024. Results: A total of 213 participants completed the survey. Only a minor proportion of respondents (37.1%) reported having received training for diagnosis and treatment of insomnia or other behavioral sleep disorders. Familiarity with psychological therapeutics for sleep was mainly associated with knowledge of sleep hygiene rules, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques, but not with core CBT strategies for insomnia (i.e., sleep restriction and stimulus control) and sleep regulation. The less familiar therapeutics were those for pediatric insomnia. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight scarce knowledge and consideration of sleep problems in CBT practice in Italy. As insomnia is prevalent, an independent mental disorder, and a predictor for mental and somatic comorbid conditions, these findings underscore an urgency to enlarge and strengthen CBT professionals’ training on sleep psychophysiology, sleep clinical psychology, insomnia, behavioral sleep problems, and their treatment. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-0af210a5bffa475b8f871c3c1b2b41772025-01-24T13:25:48ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-011514810.3390/brainsci15010048Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from ItalyChiara Baglioni0Andrea Galbiati1Debora Meneo2Greta Cavadini3Francesca Gelfo4Francesco Mancini5Carlo Buonanno6Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, ItalyFaculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, ItalyFaculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, ItalySchool of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 00185 Rome, ItalyBackground/Objectives: Based on previous data reporting the status of health professionals’ training about sleep clinical psychophysiology, insomnia, and its treatment in the US and Canada, this paper aims at providing a snapshot of the Italian situation, considering health professionals qualified to offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Adding information on different countries is important, as national health systems differ significantly, and distinct evidence-based pathways for change may be proposed. Methods: Two hundred and thirteen CBT professionals (180 females; 33 males) answered a 5 min survey about their training and experience in recognizing and treating behavioral sleep disorders in their practice. The questionnaire was diffused through the mailing list of the Italian Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Society (Società Italiana di Terapia Comportamentale e Cognitiva, SITCC) throughout December 2023 and January 2024. Results: A total of 213 participants completed the survey. Only a minor proportion of respondents (37.1%) reported having received training for diagnosis and treatment of insomnia or other behavioral sleep disorders. Familiarity with psychological therapeutics for sleep was mainly associated with knowledge of sleep hygiene rules, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques, but not with core CBT strategies for insomnia (i.e., sleep restriction and stimulus control) and sleep regulation. The less familiar therapeutics were those for pediatric insomnia. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight scarce knowledge and consideration of sleep problems in CBT practice in Italy. As insomnia is prevalent, an independent mental disorder, and a predictor for mental and somatic comorbid conditions, these findings underscore an urgency to enlarge and strengthen CBT professionals’ training on sleep psychophysiology, sleep clinical psychology, insomnia, behavioral sleep problems, and their treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/48insomnia disordersleep-wake disorderscognitive behavioral therapyCBTsurvey |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Baglioni Andrea Galbiati Debora Meneo Greta Cavadini Francesca Gelfo Francesco Mancini Carlo Buonanno Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy Brain Sciences insomnia disorder sleep-wake disorders cognitive behavioral therapy CBT survey |
| title | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy |
| title_full | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy |
| title_short | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists’ Experience on Relevance of Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Training and Clinical Practice: A Survey Study from Italy |
| title_sort | cognitive behavioral therapists experience on relevance of sleep and sleep disorders in training and clinical practice a survey study from italy |
| topic | insomnia disorder sleep-wake disorders cognitive behavioral therapy CBT survey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/48 |
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