Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40341194›Full record

Trial reportJournal of medical Internet research2025

Efficacy of a Self-Guided Internet Intervention With Optional On-Demand Feedback Versus Digital Psychoeducation on Sleep Hygiene for University Students With Insomnia: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Anna-Carlotta Zarski, Karina Bernstein, Harald Baumeister, Dirk Lehr, Stella Wernicke, Ann-Marie Küchler, Fanny Kählke, Kai Spiegelhalder, David Daniel Ebert

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 2 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
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

9 authors.

Anna-Carlotta ZarskiDivision of eHealth in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-0517-6668
Karina BernsteinPsychology and Digital Mental Health Care, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7960-084X
Harald BaumeisterDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2040-661X
Dirk LehrDepartment of Health Psychology and Applied Biological Psychology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5560-3605
Stella WernickePsychology and Digital Mental Health Care, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0009-0001-3542-0238
Ann-Marie KüchlerDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3305-4892
Fanny KählkePsychology and Digital Mental Health Care, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8189-301X
Kai SpiegelhalderDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center -- University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4133-3464
David Daniel EbertPsychology and Digital Mental Health Care, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6820-0146

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInternet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (iCBT-I) provides flexibility but requires significant time and includes potentially challenging components such as sleep restriction therapy. This raises questions about its incremental effectiveness compared to less demanding minimal interventions such as sleep hygiene psychoeducation.

objectiveThis study aimed to assess the incremental efficacy of self-guided iCBT-I with optional on-demand feedback for university students with insomnia compared to a single session of digital psychoeducation on sleep hygiene.

methodsIn a randomized controlled trial, 90 students with insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index ≥10) were randomly allocated to self-help-based iCBT-I (45/90, 50%) or one session of digital sleep hygiene psychoeducation with stimulus control instructions (active control group [aCG]: 45/90, 50%). The self-help-based iCBT-I consisted of 6 sessions on psychoeducation, sleep restriction, and stimulus control, including written feedback on demand from an eCoach. Assessments occurred at baseline (T1), 8 weeks after treatment (T2), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3) via web-based self-assessment and diagnostic telephone interviews. The primary outcome was insomnia severity at T2. Analyses of covariance were conducted in an intention-to-treat sample. Secondary outcomes included diagnoses of insomnia and major depression, sleep quality, sleep efficiency, worrying, recovery experiences, recovery activities, presenteeism, procrastination, cognitive irritation, and recuperation in sleep.

resultsThere was no difference in insomnia severity at T2 between the iCBT-I group (mean 11.27, SD 5.21) and aCG group (mean 12.36, SD 4.16; F

conclusionsIn the short term, students might benefit from low-intensity, easily accessible digital sleep hygiene psychoeducation or iCBT-I. However, it appears that iCBT-I offers superiority over sleep hygiene psychoeducation in the long term.

trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017737; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00017737.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyInternetInternet-Based InterventionPatient Education as TopicSleep HygieneSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersStudentsAdultFemaleHumansMaleTreatment OutcomeUniversitiesYoung Adultactive control groupCBT-Icognitive behavioral therapy for insomniainsomniainternet interventionrandomized controlled trialuniversity students

Identifiers

PMID40341194
PMCPMC12099275

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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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.