Efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia or sleep disturbance in pregnant women: A systematic review ad meta-analysis

During pregnancy many women may experience negative emotions and sleep disturbances. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or sleep disturbance in pregnant women. From the earliest available publications to 15 April 2022, seven electronic literature databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP Database for Chinese Science and Technology Journal. Randomised controlled trials of CBT-I in pregnant women with insomnia or sleep disorders were included. The methodological bias of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Stata Statistical Software: Release 15 was used for sensitivity analysis and publication bias. We included eight randomised controlled trials involving 743 pregnant women. Meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, CBT-I significantly improved the Insomnia Severity Index (mean difference MD] = ?4.25, 95% confidence interval CI, ?6.32, ?2.19], p < 0.001), The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (MD = ?3.30, 95% CI ?4.81, ?1.79], p < 0.001), sleep onset latency (standardised mean difference SMD] = ?1.25, 95% CI ?2.01, ?0.50], p = 0.001), anxiety (SMD = ?0.99, 95% CI ?1.32, ?0.67], p < 0.001), and depression (SMD = ?0.40, 95% CI ?0.72, ?0.07], p = 0.02). No significant differences were found in total sleep time (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI ?0.54, 1.17], p = 0.47) and sleep efficiency (SMD = 0.80, 95% CI ?0.53, 2.13], p = 0.24). CBT-I significantly improved pregnant women's sleep quality, insomnia severity, depression, and anxiety. This meta-analysis provides evidence that CBT-I is valid for insomnia or sleep disturbances during pregnancy.