Research project Much treatment research has focused on already diagnosed mental illness, with mixed results. Because stress and sleep problems are a common denominator in many diseases, both mental and somatic (physical), all patients, regardless of diagnosis, with stress and / or sleep problems are welcome to participate. Preliminary results show an improvement in sleep, stress, depression, anxiety, exhaustion syndrome and somatic symptoms immediately after treatment.
In this project, we evaluate two short and cost-effective treatments aimed at reducing stress and sleep disorders in patients with stress and sleep problems, regardless of diagnosis. The treatments are led by psychology students in term 5 and consist of four two-hour group sessions with CBT-based psychoeducation.
Region Västerbotten
Mental illness is a major problem that costs society enormous sums. Stress and sleep problems are central to both this type of illness and somatic illness, but by learning to deal with stress and sleep problems, we can feel better, manage other illnesses better and perhaps even recover. However, the resources for mental illness are too small in relation to the size of the problem. Here, contributions from university educations related to care can be helpful and this project evaluates the stress and sleep schools that psychology students in term 5 provide at some of Umeå's health centres.
The stress and sleep schools are based on CBT-based psychoeducation and given in groups, two hours at a time on four occasions. In addition to getting psychoeducation, patients also have homework. The stress and sleep schools are evaluated through validated psychometric instruments immediately before and after treatment as well as three and twelve months after the end of treatment. In addition, interviews are conducted with patients about their experiences of the treatment and the alliance with the therapists, i.e., the psychology students.
To understand how the stress and sleep schools stand in relation to the treatment that is usually given at the health centres, data is collected from control groups within primary care. Control data is also collected from the individual treatment given at the Department of Psychology's psychology clinic.
Preliminary results show an improvement in sleep, stress, depression, anxiety, exhaustion syndrome and somatic symptoms immediately after treatment. The results also indicate that the effects are clinically relevant.
The project is part of the larger project Health, Education, Stress and Sleep, abbreviated HUSS.
