Thirteen studies were included (308 patients).
About half of the included studies included a control group.
Posttreatment: significant positive effects for psychological interventions were found for SOL, WASO and number of awakenings. A marginal effect was found for total sleep time.
Sleep onset latency (12 studies, 286 subjects): d = 0.41 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.58; P = 0.000). No heterogeneity was found.
Awakening after sleep onset (10 studies, 235 subjects): d = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.80; P = 0.000). Heterogeneity was found (Q = 28.24; P < 0.03). After removal of the largest outlier, the studies were homogeneous (Q = 22.0; P > 0.10). Other planned contrast analyses (no details) failed to explain the heterogeneity. Total sleep time (12 studies, 292 subjects): d = 0.15 (95% CI: -0.02, 0.31; P = 0.083). Heterogeneity was found (Q = 43.21; P < 0.002). An analysis conducted separately between interventions based exclusively on sleep restriction and interventions based on other approaches found studies, thus grouped to be homogeneous. Sleep restriction: reduction in reported sleep time with d = -0.28 (95% CI: -0.55, 0.00; P = 0.045). No sleep restriction: significant increase in sleep time with d = 0.41 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.62; P = 0.001).
Number of awakenings (7 studies, 139 subjects): d = 0.25 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.49; P = 0.043). No heterogeneity was found.
Follow-up: Only one study included a control group. Significant positive effects for psychological interventions were found for all four outcomes.
Sleep onset latency (7 studies, 190 subjects): d = 0.64 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.85; P = 0.000).
Awakening after sleep onset (7 studies, 185 subjects): d = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.80; P = 0.000). Total sleep time (7 studies, 183 subjects): d = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.58; P = 0.000).
Number of awakenings (3 studies, 68 subjects): d = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.31, 1.01; P = 0.000).