Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a Newly Diagnosed COVID-19 Patient with Insomnia due to Adjustment Disorder: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 patients are reported suffering from anxiety, depression, and stress which culminates in the form of insomnia, and becomes a typical comorbid in hospitalized patients. Sedative-hypnotic drugs usually used to treat insomnia may not provide a viable solution as it has inhibitory effects on the respiratory system. Previous research suggested that one-week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy improved sleep latency, night sleep time, and sleep efficiency of COVID-19 patients with insomnia.

Case: A case of 53-year-old female patient with moderate symptoms of COVID-19 suffered from sleeping problems was diagnosed with insomnia due to adjustment disorder. She was given medication for three days and was scheduled for one hour of cognitive behavioral therapy intervention everyday. CBT intervention also included scheduling a regular daily activity and sleep hygiene programme.

Result: There was no improvement from medication administered to help in relieving the insomnia symptoms. However, the patient was more able to sleep well on the sixth day of treatment, after five daily sessions of CBT, which was three days after stopping the medication.

Conclusion: These results confirmed the effectiveness of daily CBT in improving the patient’s sleep quality and efficiency after one week, as suggested by previous studies.