A new online psychological therapy, spearheaded by The University of Warwick, has been shown to dramatically improve insomnia, anxiety and depression symptoms. 

Insomnia symptoms are experienced by around 10% of the general population¹. They contribute to poor mental health, worker dissatisfaction and ultimately cost the UK economy around £50 billion each year². Therapy for insomnia is available through NHS Talking Therapies, though access is dependent on local availability with long waiting times. 

In this clinical trial, workers from organisations across the Midlands received a novel therapy, using a hybrid approach to treat both insomnia and emotion regulation, with the aim of improving sleep quality and mental health in the working-age population. 

Dr Talar Moukhtarian, Assistant Professor at Warwick Medical School, and lead author of the trial said: “Poor sleep is often an early warning sign of declining mental health, yet treatment is typically only available or sought when issues become severe. By providing an accessible, scalable digital therapy, we can intervene early — helping workers improve sleep and emotional resilience before problems escalate. This proactive approach not only enhances well-being but also reduces the long-term burden on healthcare services and workplaces." 

The therapy programme lasted eight weeks and was made up of self-guided content and online therapist sessions. Improvement was seen in all measures of well-being, including in workers who began the programme with only mild symptoms. 

A participant from the study said: “It’s made really important improvements to my sleep patterns and my quality of life and wellbeing in general, so I really have highly positive views on the experience.” 

As an at-home digital treatment, the confidentiality helped mitigate the stigma of publicly seeking psychological support in the workplace. The human touch of the therapist-led sessions also proved highly valuable for participants.  

Another employee said: “It [the therapist sessions] gave you that place to discuss things and get some help personalised to yourself. If it was just the materials that were provided, I don’t think I would’ve gotten as much out of it.” 

If widely adopted, this novel hybrid therapy could lead to better access to important mental health and sleep support for workers in high need areas and offers a readily deployable and easily accessible support for insomnia in the workforce. 

Detailed information of this randomised control trial, published in Psychological Medicine, can be found here - DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291725000194Link opens in a new window 

References
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28983434/Link opens in a new window 

2.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/30.3.274Link opens in a new window

ENDS 
For more information, please contact:  
Matt Higgs, Media & Communications Officer (Sciences)  
Matt.Higgs@Warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window / +44 7880175403  

Notes to Editors
Funding: This research is supported by Midlands Engine (R.ESWM.3932) UK, as part of the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot programme (MHPP), which was a collaboration across a range of diverse partners in the Midlands to provide an evidence-informed, cost-effective and sustainable resource that supports good mental health at work, reduces stigma and ultimately increase productivity.