NHS to offer sleep app as alternative to drugs - expert comment
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the sleep app Sleepio Link opens in a new windowfor people struggling with insomnia. Professor Nicole TangLink opens in a new window comments:
"This is of course exciting news. Cognitive behaviour therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) has been recognised as first-line treatment for insomnia for some time, and yet we lack a health infrastructure to disseminate this non-drug treatment option widely. Sleepio is a digital avenue to help us achieve that.
"Cost-effectiveness is one of the key determining factors here. It is important to also recognise that sleep issues can manifest in different ways and vary in complexity.
"We mustn’t forget that some patients may require combination treatment and/or therapist support, to perhaps then tackle other issues often intertwined with difficulties sleeping, like trauma, anxiety, depression, pain and other chronic health conditions.
"It would be great if the resources saved could be invested to train therapists to provide higher intensity support for complex cases."
20 May 2022