Ricerc@Sapienza

Insomnia, the most prevalent sleep disorder worldwide, confers marked risks for both physical and mental health. Furthermore, insomnia is associated with considerable direct and indirect healthcare costs. Recent guidelines in the US and Europe unequivocally conclude that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) should be the first-line treatment for the disorder. Current treatment approaches are in stark contrast to these clear recommendations, not least across Europe, where, if any treatment at all is delivered, hypnotic medication still is the dominant therapeutic modality.

Introduction: Some empirical data and clinical observation suggest that people with chronic insomnia have difficulties in assertiveness. However, the literature on this relationship is very poor. Some studies show that low assertiveness is linked to higher severity of depression. Additionally, several studies support the role of insomnia in predicting the onset of depression. The aim of this exploratory cross-sectional study is to evaluate if assertiveness predicts depression directly and/or indirectly through the mediation of insomnia.