Effectiveness of a brief behavioral intervention for insomnia (BBII) during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mexican case report

Álvarez-García, Horacio Balam; Jiménez-Correa, Ulises; de Almondes, Katie Moraes

This report describes a case of a 42-year-old man. Due to overwork, initially has developed insufficient sleep syndrome; and later insomnia that temporarily coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. A brief behavioral intervention for insomnia (BBII) was implemented that included: sleep restriction therapy (SRT), stimulus control therapy (SCT), sleep hygiene, and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). The intervention was designed as five weekly sessions; nevertheless, it should be mentioned that starting with the third consultation, telepsychology was started due to the recommendations for social isolation implemented by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of treatment, the patient increased time and subjective sleep quality. Despite the social distancing measures (which started in the middle of the treatment), the patient had recovery of the sleep quality, highlighting the importance of implementing the telepsychology during the COVID-19 quarantine.