TREATING insomnia with behavioural therapy could reduce mental health problems, an Oxford University study has found.

The Wellcome-funded study was conducted by researchers at the university’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute.

It found that sleep disruption is a driving factor in paranoia, hallucinatory experiences, and other mental health problems in young adults with an average age of 25.

The researchers aimed to improve sleep in these individuals in order to determine the effect on mental health problems such as paranoia, anxiety, and depression.

Individuals who received the sleep treatment showed large reductions in insomnia, as well as small, sustained reductions in paranoia and hallucinatory experiences.

Daniel Freeman, the study lead and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Sleep problems are very common in people with mental health disorders, but for too long insomnia has been trivialised as merely a symptom, rather than a cause, of psychological difficulties.

“This study turns that old idea on its head, showing that insomnia may actually be a contributory cause of mental health problems.

“A good night’s sleep really can make a difference to people’s psychological health.

“Helping people get better sleep could be an important first step in tackling many psychological and emotional problems.’

The cognitive-behavioural therapy was delivered through an online programme.