Disseminating sleep education to graduate psychology programs online : a knowledge translation study to improve the management of insomnia

Study Objectives: Despite the negative impact of poor sleep on mental health, evidence-based insomnia management guidelines have not been translated into routine mental healthcare. Here, we evaluate a state-wide knowledge translation effort to disseminate sleep and insomnia education to graduate psychology programs online using the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) evaluation framework. Methods: Using a non-randomized waitlist control design, graduate psychology students attended a validated 6-hour online sleep education workshop delivered live as part of their graduate psychology program in Victoria, Australia. Sleep knowledge, attitudes, and practice assessments were conducted pre- and post-program, with long-term feedback collected at 12 months. Results: Seven out of ten graduate psychology programs adopted the workshop (adoption rate = 70%). The workshop reached 313 graduate students, with a research participation rate of 81%. The workshop was effective at improving students’ sleep knowledge and self-efficacy to manage sleep disturbances using cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), compared to the waitlist control with medium-to-large effect sizes (all p < .001). Implementation feedback was positive, with 96% of students rating the workshop as very good-to-excellent. Twelve-month maintenance data demonstrated that 83% of students had used the sleep knowledge/skills learned in the workshop in their clinical practice. However, more practical training is required to achieve CBT-I competency. Conclusions: Online sleep education workshops can be scaled to deliver cost-effective foundational sleep training to graduate psychology students. This workshop will accelerate the translation of insomnia management guidelines into psychology practice to improve sleep and mental health outcomes nationwide. © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Sleep Research Society

Measuring problematic sexual behaviour: an item response theory examination of the Bergen–Yale sex addiction scale

Background and aims: Previous research investigated the prevalence and risk factors of problematic sexual behaviour (PSB) using the Bergen–Yale Sex Addiction Scale (BYSAS), among other instruments. However, a dearth of literature employed item response theory (IRT) to assess the BYSAS psychometric properties. The present study adopts an IRT framework to comprehensively examine the measurement aspects (including discrimination and severity) and the prevalence of PSB among a relatively large adult sample. Methods: Participants (N = 968, 64.3% men, Mage = 29.5 years, age range = 18–64 years) completed the BYSAS. Results: CFA determined that the BYSAS is a unidimensional construct. Additionally, IRT analysis showed variability in discrimination, severity, and reliability across BYSAS items, with a raw score exceeding 20, indicating a high risk of PSB. Accordingly, using this raw score 1.8% of the participants were at-risk of PSB. Conclusions: Findings supported the differential use of BYSAS criteria for assessment purposes, while only a minority of participants presented to be at risk of problematic sexual behaviour difficulties

A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by an intense preoccupation with one or more perceived “defects” in physical appearance. Despite the distress and impairment associated with BDD, the disorder remains understudied and poorly understood. In particular, there are limited studies available which give voice to those with firsthand experiences of the disorder. A qualitative approach was employed to study lived experience of BDD. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants with BDD, aiming to understand their subjective experiences of the disorder. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results identified three superordinate themes; (1) consumed by the disorder, (2) the flawed self, and (3) intolerance of uncertainty about appearance. The qualitative findings of this study are discussed in relation to current conceptual understandings of BDD, including the cognitive behavioral model

The association between trichotillomania symptoms and emotion regulation difficulties: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Emotion regulation is postulated to play an important role in Trichotillomania (TTM). Whilst a growing number of studies have examined the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and TTM symptoms, there have been no attempts to evaluate the overall strength of this association or the quality of the evidence base. Method: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise findings from studies that have examined the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and TTM symptoms, to inform future TTM treatment targets. We identified 17 studies that met inclusion criteria. From these studies, 32 correlation coefficients were extracted for meta-analysis. The Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies was used to assess risk of bias amongst the included studies. Results: There was a moderately sized association between TTM symptoms and ER difficulties, (r adjusted = 0.32, 95 % CI [0.28, 0.37], t = 15.58 (df = 11.86), p < 0.0001) that was moderated by sample size (F(df1 = 1, df2 = 30) = 4.597, b = −0.0001, SE = 0.0001, 95 % CI [−0.0002; 0.0000], p = 0.040) and differences between types of emotion regulation measures (Q(df = 1) = 4.06, p = 0.044). Limitations: The data analysed was correlational, therefore causality was unable to be determined. Comorbidities were not able to be examined as a moderator. Conclusion: This study provided a preliminary integration of the evidence and demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of TTM severity appear to exhibit decreased overall emotion regulation abilities and strategies

Disseminating sleep education to graduate psychology programs online: a knowledge translation study to improve the management of insomnia

Study Objectives Despite the negative impact of poor sleep on mental health, evidence-based insomnia management guidelines have not been translated into routine mental healthcare. Here, we evaluate a state-wide knowledge translation effort to disseminate sleep and insomnia education to graduate psychology programs online using the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) evaluation framework. Methods Using a non-randomized waitlist control design, graduate psychology students attended a validated 6-hour online sleep education workshop delivered live as part of their graduate psychology program in Victoria, Australia. Sleep knowledge, attitudes, and practice assessments were conducted pre- and post-program, with long-term feedback collected at 12 months. Results Seven out of ten graduate psychology programs adopted the workshop (adoption rate = 70%). The workshop reached 313 graduate students, with a research participation rate of 81%. The workshop was effective at improving students’ sleep knowledge and self-efficacy to manage sleep disturbances using cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), compared to the waitlist control with medium-to-large effect sizes (all p < .001). Implementation feedback was positive, with 96% of students rating the workshop as very good-to-excellent. Twelve-month maintenance data demonstrated that 83% of students had used the sleep knowledge/skills learned in the workshop in their clinical practice. However, more practical training is required to achieve CBT-I competency. Conclusions Online sleep education workshops can be scaled to deliver cost-effective foundational sleep training to graduate psychology students. This workshop will accelerate the translation of insomnia management guidelines into psychology practice to improve sleep and mental health outcomes nationwide