Understanding participant experiences of cognitive behavioural therapy and health education for sleep disturbance and fatigue after acquired brain injury: a qualitative study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose A recent randomised controlled trial demonstrated the efficacy of a cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for sleep disturbance and fatigue (CBT-SF) after acquired brain injury (ABI), leading to more rapid improvement than an active health education (HE) control intervention. This study qualitatively examined participants’ experiences of receiving the CBT-SF and HE interventions.Materials and Methods 20 individuals with ABI shared their experiences with the interventions through semi-structured interviews, with transcripts analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results We identified eight themes, organised into a narrative spanning the start of treatment (Coming Into Therapy), through the process of change (Acceptance, Taking Control, and It’s Hard Work) and helpful intervention elements (Building Knowledge and Skills and Facilitating Factors), to life post-treatment (Maintaining Improvements and Overall Intervention Outcomes). Treatment helped participants accept their sleep and fatigue problems as enduring consequences of a brain injury, while empowering them to regain control by learning strategies to manage their symptoms, which they continued to use post-treatment.Conclusions This qualitative study reinforces the value of the CBT-SF and HE interventions for sleep and fatigue problems after ABI. Findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms driving change within these interventions and raise important considerations for clinical translation.
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation
Authors: Jai Carmichael, Lucy Ymer, Jennie Ponsford
Institution: Monash University
Language: English
Topic: Sleep and related disorders
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408962246