Clinical Psychological Science 2016, Vol. 4(6) 1112–1124 © The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/2167702616631740 cpx.sagepub.com Empirical Article Sleep is vital to human functioning and well-being; nev- ertheless, insomnia, the persistent inability to get sleep of sufficient length and quality, is a common problem among adults and one of the most prevalent contempo- rary health problems (Ancoli-Israel & Roth, 1999), esti- mated to affect 12% to 15% of the adult population and as many as 50% of clients in primary health care settings (Ohayon, 2002). Insomnia is comorbid with many physi- cal (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease) and mental ill- nesses (including anxiety and depression; Pearson, Johnson, & Nahin, 2006), and individuals with insomnia are likely to take more medications, consume more health care resources, be absent from work due to illness more often, and have more work-related and motor vehi- cle accidents (Ancoli-Israel & Roth, 1999; O’Keeffe, Gan- der, Scott, & Scott, 2012), making insomnia an enormous health and economic burden worldwide (Taylor, 2008). Current treatment options for insomnia include phar- macological therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Pharmacological treatments are the most widely prescribed. Drugs in common use such as anxiolytic benzodiazepines and hypnotics (e.g., zopiclone) affect the GABA neurotransmitter (Sateia & Nowell, 2004). Limitations include daytime impairment and sedation due to slow drug metabolism that interferes with the consumer’s daily functioning, the risk of depen- dence/addiction and unpleasant side effects, and the production of rebound symptoms upon discontinuation (Sateia & Nowell, 2004). Furthermore, there is limited evi- dence showing that chronic use is effective long term (Krystal et al., 2010). Widespread concern about long- term effectiveness, habituation, tolerance, and the poten- tial complications of insomnia medications (Krystal et al., 2010; Sateia & Nowell, 2004) has encouraged a search for alternative treatments (Kierlin, 2008). CBT-I targets appro- priate sleep hygiene and those behaviors and cognitions that inhibit sleep (Blampied & Bootzin, 2013). Although established as effective (Belanger, Savard, & Morin, 2006; Morin, Culbert, & Schwartz, 1994; Morin et al., 2006), CBT-I relies heavily on the individual having access to a qualified therapist initially and then practicing CBT-I in a 631740CPX XX X 10.1177/2167702616631740Lothian et al.Insomnia and Micronutrients research-article 2016 Corresponding Author: Neville M. Blampied, Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand E-mail: Neville.blampied@canterbury.ac.nz Effect of Micronutrients on Insomnia in Adults: A Multiple-Baseline Study Joanna Lothian, Neville M. Blampied, and Julia J. Rucklidge Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury Abstract Insomnia is a debilitating condition causing psychological distress and frequently comorbid with other mental health conditions. This study examined the effect of 8 weeks of treatment by broad spectrum micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) on insomnia using a multiple-baseline-across-participants open-label trial design. Seventeen adults were randomized to 1-, 2-, or 3-week baseline periods (14 completed). Self-report measures were the Consensus Sleep Diary–Morning (CSD-M), the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale (PIRS), and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS). Baselines were generally stable. Treatment completers reported reliable and clinically significant change in insomnia severity (PIRS), in depression, stress, and anxiety (DASS), and on at least two aspects of sleep measured by the CDS-M. All completers were treatment-compliant, and side effects were minimal. Nutritional supplementation is shown to be a novel, beneficial treatment for insomnia in adults. Follow-up research using placebo-controlled designs as well as comparisons to cognitive-behavioral and other treatments is recommended. Keywords insomnia, adults, micronutrients, treatment, multiple baseline Received 1/10/16; Revision accepted 1/11/16