CBT-I APP | Yxcloud

DESIGNING A TECHNOLOGY-BASED APPROACH TO SUPPORT COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR INSOMNIA (CBT-I)

A Thesis for the Degree Master of Industrial Design

Approved by:

Dr. Leandro Miletto Tonetto, Advisor
School of Industrial Design, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Leila Aflatoony
School of Industrial Design, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Abigale Stangl
School of Industrial Design, Georgia Institute of Technology

Summary

The study presents a mobile application designed to support individuals undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) under professional guidance. Its functionalities, informed by literature, thematic analysis, and CBT-I theory, address identified challenges and aid both users and therapists. Key features include tools for implementing CBT-I components (e.g., sleep restriction, stimulus control), a motivational reward system encouraging adherence to treatment goals, and secure, reliable data collection for professionals. The app emphasizes flexibility, privacy, and personalization, enabling users to actively participate in their treatment while providing therapists with actionable insights for tailoring interventions.

METHOD

RESULT

The study identified three key design principles: flexibility, encouragement through small goals, and minimal effort. These guided the creation of three concepts:

Concept A (mobile app),
Concept B (e-paper display device),
Concept C (in-session board game).

Professionals favored Concept A for its accessibility and integration with their workflow. It was selected for further development.

The final design, mobile app supports CBT-I through features like sleep logs, goal-based rewards, and data sharing with professionals. A 7-day baseline phase and weekly reports ensure structure and personalization.

A usability test with 21 participants showed usability (SUS 68.93) and satisfaction (3.86/5). Tasks were generally rated positively, though issues included difficulty entering data, overwhelming content, and unclear rewards. Suggestions included simplifying content and improving guidance.