Volume 25 Num. 2 - June 2025
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Online-Delivered Paradoxical Intention Therapy among Adults with Insomnia Symptoms and High Sleep Effort
Volume 25 Num. 2 - June 2025 - Pages 151-166
Authors:
Ong, GSC , Lazar, AS , Broomfield, NM
Abstract:
Volume 25, 2- June 1, 2025
The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of online-delivered paradoxical intention therapy (PI) among adults with insomnia symptoms and high sleep effort. A two-arm randomised controlled trial was conducted. Twenty-six adults (18-54 years) were randomly allocated to receive either PI (n = 13) or sleep hygiene instructions (n = 13). PI sessions were delivered via the Internet across two hour-long sessions over two weeks whereas sleep hygiene instructions sessions were one-off. Participants completed 5 consecutive days of wrist actigraphy and sleep diary, the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline, post-intervention (2 weeks) and follow-up (1 month). Thirty-five adults of the 46 recruited (76%) presented with insomnia symptoms and high sleep effort. The randomised participants who persisted with the study (n= 24) showed good adherence (85%-100%) throughout the intervention and follow-up periods. Significant reductions were observed on the GSES indicating the role of PI in reducing sleep effort. Findings also show that PI significantly improved self-reported sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency), and sleep quality measured by PSQI, yielding moderate to large effect sizes. Preliminary findings indicate that PI is a feasible, standalone psychological intervention for insomnia symptoms that can be administered successfully via the Internet. Future trials are needed to address the sustained efficacy of online PI on both objective and self-reported sleep quality, sleep effort and depression outcomes.
How to cite this paper:
Ong GSC, Lazar AS, & Broomfield NM (2025). Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Online-Delivered Paradoxical Intention Therapy among Adults with Insomnia Symptoms and High Sleep Effort. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 25, 1, 151-166.
Key words:
paradoxical intention, feasibility, preliminary efficacy, insomnia, sleep effort, depression
Full Article
More articles in this volume
- [167-181] Unemotional psychopathy? What part of the emotional self-reported experience is missing in individuals scoring high, medium and low in psychopathy
- [183-196] Features of Alcohol Dependence Development in Servicemen Participating in Combat Operations
- [197-214] Mood influences the formation of explicit knowledge but not learning of implicit regularities
- [215-221] Sleep Disorder among Healthcare Workers
- [223-244] Psychometric Evaluation of the Relational Abilities Index in Mexican Population
- [245-254] The Impact of War on Mental Health of Young Students
- [255-270] Impact of Coping Styles and Perfectionism on Problematic Substance Use in Medical Students
