Efficacy of multicomponent CBT-I and its single components

This chapter provides an overview of contemporary evidence (as of 2021) for the efficacy of CBT-I and its components. The scientific support for the clinical use of CBT-I has emerged over the last 40 years and now comprises over 100 randomised controlled trials (RCTs). These trials have informed numerous meta-analyses that have, as a consequence, shaped the treatment guidelines we use today. The evidence considered in this chapter focuses on the most recent meta-analyses that report on the effects of CBT-I and its components on insomnia symptoms and measures of sleep continuity. The overarching conclusion from meta-analyses is that CBT-I is effective in improving night-time insomnia symptoms in both the short term and the long term. In addition, CBT-I improves daytime functioning and its efficacy seems to be independent of co-morbid conditions, age and use of medication. The efficacy of CBT-I components as standalone therapies has been examined to a lesser extent but shows promising results, especially for behavioural components.