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Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Interventions to Address Insomnia Symptoms and Poor Sleep Quality Among People With HIV: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: HIV-related research has increasingly focused on addressing long-term comorbidities affecting health-related quality of life for people with HIV. Sleep-related conditions, such as insomnia, are highly prevalent among people with HIV and are associated with a variety of health challenges, including immune dysregulation, increased mental health burden, and reduced antiretroviral therapy adherence. Although there are several evidence-based pharmacological (eg, hypnotics) and nonpharmacological interventions (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy) to treat insomnia, few have been specifically tested among people with HIV. Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to characterize the current state of the field regarding pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for treating insomnia symptoms and poor sleep quality among adults (aged 18 years or older) with HIV. Methods: Eligible studies are those that (1) are focused on adults with HIV (aged ≥18 years), (2) examine the effects of an intervention (pharmacological or nonpharmacological) within this population, and (3) have a primary outcome dedicated to sleep quality and/or insomnia symptoms. All published manuscripts, abstracts, conference proceedings, and currently registered studies in the clinical trials registry will be considered. The review will follow the JBI scoping review methodology and adhere to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) reporting standards. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted by searching MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global databases in July 2026. Two reviewers will independently screen abstracts and titles using Covidence, with a third reviewer resolving any conflicts via consensus meetings. Full-text reviews of selected studies will then be conducted to determine final study eligibility. Data from included studies will then be independently extracted using a pilot-tested extraction form that captures participant characteristics, study details, intervention design, and sleep-related outcomes. A thorough narrative review with a summary table of study characteristics and findings will be generated at the end of the scoping review process. Results: The scoping review process began in April 2026. The authors anticipate identifying relevant full-text articles by December 2026 and completing the initial review of all eligible manuscripts by January 2027. Final results are expected to be consolidated and submitted for publication in the spring or summer of 2027. Conclusions: The results of this scoping review will help to contextualize the current landscape of potentially helpful interventions to improve insomnia symptoms and poor sleep quality among people with HIV through an updated, more comprehensive review of the literature. Understanding the types of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions to treat insomnia symptoms and poor sleep that have already been tested among people with HIV may provide targeted guidance for optimizing personalized behavioral and medical treatments to improve sleep health in this underserved population.

Source: JMIR Research Protocols

DOI: 10.2196/98894

Authors: Elliott R Weinstein, Meghan J Linder, Jessie Y Liu, Carol Mita, Peter R Chai