Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness therapies on sleep quality and cognitive abilities of women with insomnia

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness therapies on sleep quality and cognitive abilities of women with insomnia. This research was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a 3-month follow-up. The study's statistical population was women with insomnia disorder who referred to the counseling center of a university in Tehran in 2020. Among them, 63 people were selected through purposive sampling method and were randomly assigned in two experimental groups and one control group (21 people in each group). Both experimental groups were treated separately for 8 weekly 45 to 60-sessions. The control group did not receive any intervention. The Sleep Quality and Cognitive Ability Questionnaires were delivered individually at baseline, after the program, and after 3-months follow-up. Data were analyzed by repeated measures of variance analysis.The results showed that both interventions were similarly effective for improving the sleep quality and cognitive abilities of women with insomnia. There was no significant difference in effectiveness between the two groups. Also, the difference between post-test and follow-up stages was not significant.Treatment of insomnia based on mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapies can improve sleep quality and cognitive abilities by reducing physiological arousal and rumination and increasing the attention and concentration of patients. Therefore, the use of two therapy methods is recommended to reduce the problems of women with insomnia.