Overview

2-part webinar series 

Insomnia disorder is the most common sleep disorder with chronic insomnia occurring in up to 15% of Australian adults, causing significant daytime impairment and reduced quality of life, and is one of the strongest predictors of future anxiety and depression. The most effective and recommended ‘first line’ treatment for insomnia is Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (CBTi).

CBTi can be administered over 6-8 weekly/fortnightly sessions, and is focused on behavioural, cognitive and educational components specific to the underpinning mechanisms of insomnia. CBTi delivered by Psychologists/Practitioners with CBTi training and experience, is the ‘gold standard’ treatment, however approximately 50-100 Australian Psychologists have specific training and experience in the administration of CBTi.

This on-demand series aims to provide Psychologists and other healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and tools to treat chronic insomnia with CBTi and will cover:

• Insomnia disorder; presenting symptoms, diagnosis, prevalence, associations with health,

• insomnia and co-morbid mental and physical health conditions,

• conceptualisations, and management approaches,

• tools to assess and diagnose insomnia,

• introduction to CBTi,

• CBTi: sleep information,

• CBTi: behavioural therapies, and

• CBTi: cognitive therapies.

1. Insomnia disorder

An overview of insomnia prevalence, characteristics, assessment and diagnosis, co-morbid mental and physical conditions, and underlying aetiology.

2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi)

How to deliver evidence-based CBTi over multiple session-based appointments.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to this activity is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality.

Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details

• On-demand webinar recording

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this on-demand webinar series, participants should be able to:

• understand insomnia disorder symptoms, prevalence, and aetiology,

• appreciate insomnia in the context of co-morbid conditions, contra-indications, and differential diagnoses,

• understand standardised tools to assess and diagnose insomnia,

• understand the rationale for CBTi,

• understand behavioural therapies (stimulus control and bedtime restriction), educational content (sleep pressure, circadian process, normalisation of awakenings and light sleep), and cognitive strategies (identifying and re-structuring mal-adaptive sleep-related beliefs), and

• access further CBTi learning, tools, and support.

Presenter(s)

Professor Leon Lack, Dr Nicole Lovato

About the presenter(s)

Professor Leon Lack received his BA from Stanford University, his PhD from the University of Adelaide, and has a long and notable career in teaching and research at Flinders University. He has extensive research experience in basic sleep processes, circadian (24-hour) rhythms, insomnia treatment, and napping research. Since 1992 he has also been director of the Insomnia Treatment Program at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health. He is frequently invited to give professional development workshops for health professionals, speak at national and international conferences, and educate the general public through lectures and media appearances. His research and clinical experience has resulted in the development of therapeutic device and patents for the administration of bright light therapy helpful in the treatment of certain phenotypes of insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders. Thus he has successfully integrated his teaching and research career with clinical practice, technological innovation, and public involvement. Dr. Nicole Lovato is a Senior Research Fellow and provisional Psychologist at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Flinders University. She completed her PhD in 2012 at Flinders University evaluating the use of bright light and cognitive behaviour therapy to treat insomnia in older adults. Her research is focused on the basic and clinical aspects of sleep, circadian rhythms, and sleep disorders such as insomnia, and the translation of this knowledge to ensure best practice sleep health care is widely accessible across the community. She has received several awards for her work including South Australian Young Tall Poppy and Australian Psychological Association Early Career Researcher Award.