Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36991537›Full record

Trial reportJournal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines2023

The effects of a sleep-focused smartphone application on insomnia and depressive symptoms: a randomised controlled trial and mediation analysis.

Aliza Werner-Seidler, Sophie H Li, Samantha Spanos, Lara Johnston, Bridianne O'Dea, Michelle Torok, Lee Ritterband, Jill M Newby, Andrew J Mackinnon, Helen Christensen

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Aliza Werner-SeidlerBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Sophie H LiBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Samantha SpanosAustralian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Lara JohnstonBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Bridianne O'DeaBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1731-210X
Michelle TorokBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Lee RitterbandSchool of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Jill M NewbyBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Andrew J MackinnonBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Helen ChristensenBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRates of depression are increasing among adolescents. A novel way to reduce depression is by improving sleep. We evaluated whether an app-based intervention for insomnia improved sleep and depression, and whether changes in insomnia mediated changes in depression.

methodsWe conducted a 2-arm single-blind randomised controlled trial at the Black Dog Institute in Australia. Adolescents 12-16 years experiencing insomnia symptoms were randomly allocated to receive Sleep Ninja, an app-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy program for insomnia, or to an active control group involving weekly text message sleep tips. Assessments took place at baseline, 6 weeks (post-intervention) and 14 weeks (post-baseline). Co-primary outcomes were symptoms of insomnia and depression at post-intervention (primary endpoint). Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted. The trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12619001462178.

resultsBetween October 25, 2019, and September 6, 2020, 264 participants were randomised to receive Sleep Ninja (n = 131) or to the control group (n = 133). Relative to the control group, those allocated to the intervention reported a greater reduction in insomnia symptoms at 6 weeks (95% CI: -2.96 to -0.41, d = .41) and 14 weeks (95% CI: -3.34 to -0.19, d = .39), and a greater reduction in depression symptoms at 6 weeks (95% CI: -3.46 to -0.56, d = .28) but not 14 weeks (p < 1). Change in insomnia mediated change in depression. No adverse events were reported.

conclusionsAn app-delivered program for insomnia could be a practical, non-stigmatising and scalable way to reduce symptoms of insomnia and depression among adolescents experiencing difficulties getting enough good quality sleep.

Indexed as

Mobile ApplicationsSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersAustraliaDepressionHumansMediation AnalysisSingle-Blind MethodSleepSmartphoneTreatment Outcomeadolescentapp-based interventiondepressioninsomniaSleep disturbance

Identifiers

PMID36991537
PMCPMC10952387

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.