Impact and mechanisms of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on fatigue among cancer survivors: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Abstract Study Objectives Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in cancer survivors. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can improve fatigue, but mechanisms are unclear. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluated whether CBT-I led to a significant improvement in fatigue, accounting for change in comorbid symptoms of insomnia, perceived cognitive impairment (PCI), anxiety, and depression. The parent study evaluated the impacts of CBT-I on PCI and insomnia. Methods Cancer survivors with insomnia and PCI were randomized to CBT-I or sleep-self-monitoring waitlist control. Fatigue was measured using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory—Short Form at pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. Significant improvement in fatigue was defined as a reduction of >10.79 points. Insomnia, PCI, anxiety, and depression symptoms were assessed. A linear mixed model evaluated whether CBT-I improved fatigue after adjusting for comorbidities. Mediation analyses examined whether change in comorbidities accounted for the effect of CBT-I on fatigue. Results The sample consisted of 132 cancer survivors (77% female, Mage = 60.12 years, 41% breast cancer). There was a significant group-by-time interaction on fatigue, p < .001, with the CBT-I group experiencing a 20.6-point reduction in fatigue compared to 3.7 points in the control. Improvements in fatigue were fully accounted for by improvements in the comorbidities with change in insomnia…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
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