Research so far on this course ...
We have conducted 1 trial of this course
More than 70 participants have enrolled in this course
We have published 1 study evaluating this course
Sleep Course
Background
We are currently developing a free, internet-delivered sleep improvement program. The Sleep Course is designed to provide helpful information and teach practical skills that are proven to help people improve their sleep-wake patterns.
Research tells us that certain strategies can make a meaningful difference to people’s sleep and their day-to-day functioning. The strategies in this course are based on cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which help us to change our thinking patterns and behaviours in a way that promotes good sleep. The Sleep Course also includes up-to-date information about the science of sleep, and how to take advantage of this to improve our sleep and wake patterns.
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Hundreds of research studies show that CBT-I is an effective treatment for sleep difficulties and insomnia, and is just as effective as sleep medication. These improvements include things like falling asleep faster, waking up fewer times during the night, getting more total sleep time, and feeling better during the day.
Who is the course suitable for?
The course is suitable for:
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Adults aged 18 and older
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Living in Australia
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With a sleep difficulty that is impacting their life and emotional wellbeing.
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Who want to learn information and skills to improve their sleep and daytime functioning.
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Who have at least 4 hours per week to spend working on the course and practicing the skills taught
Unfortunately, we cannot include people who are currently suicidal, do not have access to the Internet or who are not living in Australia. We also strongly recommend people discuss their participation in this course with their GP and other doctors.
What does the course involve?
The course involves:
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An initial sleep assessment to confirm suitability
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Monitoring your sleep with a diary
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Four online lessons that provide helpful information and teach sleep improvement skills
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DIY Exercises to help you understand and practice those skills
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Brief weekly contact with a clinician via email and telephone
The course aims to provide the information and skills that you would normally receive from a psychologist with specialised knowledge in sleep. However, because many people cannot access these facilities, we are developing and testing this internet-delivered course - our goal is to make it as helpful as possible and to make it freely and widely available.
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What have we found so far?
We trialed the Sleep Course in 2023 with a diverse group of participants. Our study found that participants reported improvements in:
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Insomnia symptoms
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Mood and anxiety levels
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How long it takes them to fall asleep, and how much sleep they get overnight.
We also recently published this research study:
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Scott, A. J., Hathway, T., Bisby, M. A., Titov, N., & Dear, B. F. (2024). The Sleep Course: An inclusive trial examining the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a digital sleep intervention for adults with self-reported sleep difficulties. Internet Interventions, 38, 100778.
What is the current trial or study looking at?
Every time we offer a course, we offer it as a part of a trial or study. This means that participants are helping us to answer an important research question while they participate in our courses.
In this second trial of the Sleep Course, we are hoping to understand more about when people experience improvements during treatment. This could help us learn what skills are particularly helpful, and further improve the course for future participants.
You can read more in the Participant Information and Consent Form Statement.
When is the next course being offered?
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We are pleased to be accepting applications for the Sleep Course to people currently living in Australia.
Our next two groups are starting on:
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Monday 3rd February
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Monday 31st March
You will be randomly chosen to start in one of the two groups - so, you need to be able to start in either group.
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To apply to participate in one of our next two groups, please click the 'Apply Now' button below and follow the prompts.
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We will be running new courses 4 or 5 times a year. If the dates for our next two groups are not suitable for you, please check this webpage again in a couple of weeks - we'll be updating the dates of available groups regularly.