A scoping review of insomnia treatments for people living with HIV

Abstract

Abstract To date, little is known in terms of viable treatments for insomnia in people living with HIV. The primary aim of this scoping review is to identify non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia in people living with HIV (PLWH). A framework by Arksey and O’Malley was used to guide the conduct of this scoping review. Seven studies were identified. Three of the studies used cognitive-behavioral type of treatments versus physical or alternative types of treatment. The most effective treatments with the largest effect sizes were found to be cognitive-behavioral treatments for the sleep outcomes of sleep quantity (1.11-1.91) and sleep quality (1.11-1.91). This review found that cognitive behavioral interventions were found to be the most effective treatments for insomnia for PLWH. Further research would benefit from larger sample size studies in addition to focusing on the determinants of insomnia in PLWH in order to further provide a treatment that is focused on the needs of PLWH.