Recently research by Michael V. Vitiello at the University of Washington has shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improve sleep in people who have osteoarthritis. The study involved 51 participants who were randomly assigned to either a control group or a CBT group. The CBT group received 8 two-hour classes of CBT in small groups (4-8 subjects) whilst the control group received generic wellness classes. After the intervention the CBT group were shown to have significantly improved sleep quality. Interestingly the improvement in sleep was also associated with an improvement in pain.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help change the way people think and behave. Unlike many other psychotherapies that focus on the causes of distress, CBT takes a problem solving approach that focuses on ways to improve your psychological state.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition whereby there is an inflammation of the joint caused by a degeneration of the cartilage that lines the joint. As the cartilage degenerates there can also be changes in the bony surfaces of the joint which can lead to pain and joint dysfunction. Otherwise known as the “wear and tear arthritis” OA is thought to affect an estimated 8.5 million people in the UK. Most commonly, osteoarthritis develops over the age of 50 and is more common in men. Osteoarthritis is more common if there has been some kind of injury to one of the joints. One of the common symptoms of osteoarthritis is night pain which can have a big impact on quality of live.