How people with tinnitus-related insomnia experience group CBT-for-insomnia (CBTi): A thematic analysis

Objective: Although insomnia often compounds tinnitus, sleeping problems in people experiencing tinnitus are rarely treated. This study investigates the experiences of participants receiving Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) as part of a randomized controlled trial for managing tinnitus-related insomnia. The aim of this study is to gain detailed insight into participants' perceptions and experiences of this treatment.
Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted via phone or in-person by one of the two clinical psychologists who facilitated the CBTi sessions. Reflexive thematic analysis with semantic inductive approach was used for analysis to keep the research question theoretically flexible.
Study sample: Eight participants (3 female, age range 32-69 years) were interviewed six months after CBTi completion.
Results: Three superordinate themes were identified: “Common humanity and transcending individual distress”, “Changing the things I can” and “Accepting the things I cannot change”. The group environment helped participants to normalize their experiences. Reliable tinnitus/sleep information and robust behavioural change techniques helped participants to respond and relate to their condition differently.
Conclusion: Generally, participants reported long-term benefits from CBTi to treat tinnitus-related insomnia, particularly increased confidence, and getting on with life. CBTi is multi-component, so clinicians need to respond to individual preferences and lifestyles.