What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials to evaluate non-pharmacologic therapies for sleep disturbances after traumatic brain injury.
What They Found
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) significantly improved sleep quality (PSQI by -3.44), insomnia severity (ISI by -2.23 at 6-8 weeks and -0.91 at 12-16 weeks), and daytime sleepiness (ESS by -1.45 at 16 weeks). Only the improvement in sleep quality met a clinically important difference. For hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), blue-wavelength light therapy, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, the evidence was very low, and HBOT showed a higher risk of mild ear barotrauma compared to sham (relative risk: 2.66).
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study's main limitation for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, blue-wavelength light therapy, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation was the very low quality of evidence due to small sample sizes and varied study designs.