A new digital platform designed to treat both insomnia and anxiety in seniors was announced on June 9 by researchers at the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, working with Concordia University, Université Laval, and the Université de Montréal. The program aims to address a gap in care for older adults who often experience both conditions simultaneously.
The results of a clinical trial were published in the journal Age and Ageing. The study involved 80 adults aged 65 and older who experienced insomnia. Participants used the eCBT+ program, which consists of a seven-week intervention featuring one 30-minute interactive video module per week.
The platform is accessible via computer, tablet, or smartphone, and is noted as being the first of its kind available in French. It includes features tailored for older users such as adjustable text size, contrast settings, and scenarios reflecting everyday experiences. In terms of usability, participants rated it as user-friendly with a usability score near 70 percent. Acceptance was mainly driven by ease of use and perceived usefulness.
"From a clinical perspective, the intervention proved highly effective. Participants who completed the eCBT+ program experienced significant improvements in sleep efficiency and reductions in symptoms of both insomnia and anxiety compared with the control group," says Mathilde Reyt, the study's first author and a postdoctoral researcher at CRIUGM and Concordia University.
Dr. Dang-Vu concluded, "Our findings show that web-based tools offer a promising and clinically relevant approach to promoting sleep and mental health among older adults. This combined digital CBT program represents an important step toward making these treatments more accessible to everyone." The research team plans to expand its sample size to confirm long-term effects with particular attention to potential benefits for cognitive function and daytime quality of life.
