Development and pilot testing of a digital CBT-based self-care treatment for patients with restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome
The digital CBT-based treatment is delivered via BASS, a well-established platform from Karolinska Institutet, and consists of two parts: one focusing on insomnia and the other on RLS symptoms. The content includes RLS-specific psychoeducation, descriptions of lived experiences, information on pharmacological treatments related to RLS symptoms, stress management and acceptance, and RLS-specific self-care advice. The program aims to support patients in managing distressing thoughts and feelings that can cause sleep disturbances or exacerbate depressive symptoms, anxiety, and worry. It further aims to help patients find ways to relate to their current situation to achieve symptom reduction, improved sleep quality, and better overall well-being. The intervention comprises eight modules (four for RLS and four for insomnia), with each module having a specific focus. Participants are assigned one module per week. The Insomnia part: The intervention includes four weekly modules based on established internet-delivered CBT for insomnia, tailored in this study for RLS-specific needs. The content includes psychoeducation, sleep diaries, stimulus control, and sleep restriction, as well as deactivation methods and cognitive interventions. Each module integrates “cases” validated by research partners to ensure clinical relevance and high user acceptance. The adaptation of the traditional insomnia protocol is based on data from preparatory studies and iterative consensus discussions between researchers, clinicians, and patients. A central hypothesis is that this part of the digital CBT-based treatment provides particularly high clinical utility for patients with moderate RLS symptoms, where secondary insomnia constitutes a significant portion of the total disease burden. The RLS part: The intervention also comprises four weekly modules dedicated to managing specific RLS symptoms. Its development is based on expertise in RLS care as well as CBT for tinnitus, a condition which, l
1. Restless legs syndrome diagnosis (ICD-10: G258, ICD-11: 7A80, 7A87) 2. Min Age: 18 years. Max Age: No limit.
1. Disease with short survival (ICD-10: Z51.5, DV097, ZV400) 2. Psychiatric disorder making participation inappropriate (codes F20, F22, F23, or F31 registered twice in the last 2 years) 3. Substance dependence (ICD-10: F10-F19 registered twice in the last 2 years) 4. Inability to provide independent written informed consent 5. Requirement for a representative (e.g., interpreter, third party, or caregiver during clinical contact) 6. Lack of access to the internet, a computer, or a mobile phone