Schlafbezogene Metakognitionen im transdiagnostischen Kontext

Sleep-related metacognitions are beliefs about one’s own thoughts and cognitive schemas that deal with sleep-related content. They are associated with insomnia and poor sleep quality. Theory provides evidence for associations with depression and rumination. A structural equation model of the relationships between sleep-related metacognition, insomnia, depression, sleep quality, and rumination was derived from the existing literature. The aim of the study was to discuss possible correlations.

The constructs were collected using Metacognition Questionnaire-Insomnia (MCQ-I), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Response Styles Questionnaire (RSQ-D), which were dispensed to a study population in an inpatient center for sleep medicine. The data were analyzed descriptively and factor-analytically. Maximum likelihood estimation was used to test the theory-based structural equation model and fit indices were used to assess the global model fit.

In total, 415 patients were recruited to participate in this study. Descriptive analysis showed small links between their sociodemographic characteristics and their answers on the scales. The theory-based structural equation model showed an acceptable to good fit. Sleep-related metacognitions, insomnia, depression, sleep quality, and rumination showed midsize to strong correlations amongst each other ranging from r = 0,44 to 0,97 (p < 0,001).

The results of the structural equation modelling confirm the magnitude and direction of previous findings. The study shows the global relationship between sleep-related metacognition, insomnia, depression, sleep quality, and rumination. It thus supports a cross-diurnal view of mental disorders and the consideration of metacognitive beliefs in the treatment of insomnia and depression.