Abstract

CLINICAL EFFICACY OF A SWASTHAVRITTA-BASED REGIMEN IN IMPROVING SLEEP QUALITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AMONG PATIENTS WITH INSOMNIA: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY

Dr. Vishnu Kumar Mittal*, Dr. Sangeeta Swavat

Abstract

Background: Chronic insomnia is a persistent sleep disorder that adversely affects daytime performance, emotional stability, cognitive efficiency, quality of life, and long-term health. Ayurveda recognizes Nidrā as one of the principals supports of life and describes pathological sleep disturbance under the concepts of Anidrā and Nidrānāśa. The discipline of Swasthavritta emphasizes regulation of daily routine, food habits, physical activity, sensory exposure, sleep conduct, Yoga, and mental discipline. These principles may offer a comprehensive non-pharmacological strategy for the management of insomnia. Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the clinical efficacy of a structured Swasthavritta-based regimen in improving sleep quality, reducing insomnia severity, enhancing psychological wellbeing, lowering anxiety, and improving sleep-related daytime functioning in patients with chronic insomnia. Materials and Methods: A randomized, controlled, parallel-group clinical study was conducted among patients diagnosed with chronic insomnia. One hundred individuals were screened, of whom 40 were excluded on the basis of eligibility criteria or unwillingness to paticipate. The remaining 60 participants were randomized equally into two groups. Group A comprised 30 participants who received a comprehensive Swasthavritta-based regimen for eight weeks. The intervention included regularization of sleep-wake timing, adjustment of meal timing, morning light exposure, moderate physical activity, dietary modification, reduction of evening digital exposure, Padābhyanga, selected Yogāsana, Nāḍīśodhana, Bhrāmarī, mindfulness-based relaxation, Yoga Nidrā, and behavioural sleep guidance. Group B included 30 participants who received standardized sleep-hygiene education. The principal outcomes were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index. Psychological well-being, anxiety, sleep efficiency, daytime functioning and selected Ayurvedic symptoms were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Results: Both groups demonstrated improvement after eight weeks, but the reduction in sleep disturbance was substantially greater in Group A. The mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score decreased from 14.2 ± 2.4 to 6.1 ± 2.0 in Group A, while Group B showed a reduction from 13.9 ± 2.3 to 10.8 ± 2.2. The mean Insomnia Severity Index score declined from 19.6 ± 3.1 to 7.8 ± 2.9 in Group A and from 19.1 ± 3.0 to 14.2 ± 3.2 in Group B. Group A also demonstrated greater improvement in psychological well-being, anxiety, sleep efficiency, daytime alertness, and Ayurvedic symptoms associated with inadequate sleep. The between-group differences for the major outcomes were statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings indicate that a structured Swasthavritta-based regimen may be more effective than sleep-hygiene education alone in improving sleep quality, insomnia severity, psychological well-being, anxiety, and sleep efficiency. The intervention appears to be a feasible and culturally relevant approach for the non-pharmacological management of chronic insomnia.

Keywords: Anidrā, chronic insomnia, psychological well-being, sleep quality, Swasthavritta, Yoga Nidrā.