European Insomnia Network (EIN)
About Insomnia
Insomnia disorder is the most prevalent sleep disorder, and it is recognised as the second most common mental disorder, with an overall prevalence between 12.4% and 16.2% following recent data. Insomnia disorder affects individuals’ quality of life and health, and it is also recognised as a major risk factor for mental disorders and potentially for common somatic conditions in meta-analyses. Beyond health consequences, untreated insomnia is associated with substantial economic burden due to both direct (i.e., medical) and indirect (i.e., work absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased accident risk) costs. Moreover, individuals with untreated insomnia show higher rates of healthcare services utilisation. Indeed, in Europe, mental disorders, including insomnia, account for an annual economic burden estimated in the order of billions of euros.
Aetiological models evidence the role of predisposing biological, cognitive, and emotional factors, which tend to trigger the symptoms when they interact dynamically with precipitating conditions. If perpetuating behavioural, cognitive and emotional factors are activated, the disorder tends to get chronic. While the knowledge of the disorder is robust, its comprehension expands regularly thanks to high-quality evidence-based research in the field. Animal models contributed to enhancing our understanding of neurological mechanisms underlying insomnia disorder, but still, this field is in ongoing evolution. Recent interest and formulation of theoretical models in sleep health have moved researchers and clinicians’ attention from what is pathological to what is healthy, which is expected to result in advancement in early recognition of preclinical conditions and development of effective preventive interventions. The research and clinical community is constantly getting closer to promoting the most evidence-based practices in healthcare national systems
Aims of the European Insomnia Network
The European Insomnia Network (EIN) is a group of researchers and clinicians affiliated to the European Sleep Research Society which share a common interest in insomnia disorder and sleep health, from basic research to clinical practice. The aims of the EIN include:
- Advance Scientific Research.
- Promote high-quality, collaborative research on insomnia across Europe and the World, with a focus on both clinical and translational studies.
- Build and strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships among researchers, clinicians, and institutions working on sleep and insomnia-related topics.
- Support Early-Career Researchers.
- Support mentorship, training opportunities, and funding support to emerging researchers in the field of insomnia.
- Promote Knowledge Exchange by organising conferences, workshops, and webinars to facilitate the sharing of new findings, methodologies, and best practices.
- Enhance Public and Clinical Awareness by disseminating evidence-based information about insomnia to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public.
- Influence Policy and Funding Advocate for increased recognition of insomnia as a public health issue and for dedicated funding within European research frameworks.
- Develop Standardised Tools and Protocols.
- Encourage the development and adoption of harmonised assessment tools, diagnostic criteria, and treatment protocols across Europe.
- Integrate Patient Perspectives by involving patients and patient organisations in research design, dissemination, and evaluation to ensure relevance and impact.
The European Academy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia Disorder
(European CBT-I Academy)
As part of EIN’s initiatives focused on clinical practice, the European CBT-I Academy was established. The Academy refers to a community of clinicians and research experts in insomnia and its treatment who work to promote the dissemination of high-quality evidence-based training for clinical professionals and provision of evidence-based interventions for behavioural sleep problems across Europe.
History of the EIN
The European Insomnia Network (EIN) was founded in 2008, led by Prof. Dieter Riemann (Freiburg), together with Eus Van Someren (Amsterdam) and Colin A. Espie (Oxford). The first steering committee also included Prof. Thomas Pollmächer, Prof. Claudio Bassetti, and Prof. Damien Leger. A first call for joining the group of interest was sent in 2009, and more than 100 members from 20 different countries showed interest. The first meeting of the European Insomnia Network took place in July 2012 in Freiburg. The meeting hosted a limited number of clinicians and researchers from several European countries who presented their own work and ideas. Since then, the European Insomnia Network has expanded its membership and begun organising annual meetings to share updates on new developments and findings related to insomnia research and clinical practice. Following an idea developed by Prof. Dieter Riemann and Prof. Colin Espie, since 2018, the EIN has included the European CBT-I Academy, and 15 training courses directed at health professionals are now endorsed and active throughout Europe. Currently the EIN counts more than 300 members from European and non-European countries.
The EIN and the Academy's Committees
Coordinators of the EIN and CBT-I Academy Committees
CBT-I Academy Members
CBT-I Academy Early Career Members
EIN Committee
EIN Early Career Members
Membership
Membership of the European Insomnia Network is open to:
– All members of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) with a clear interest in insomnia.
– Interested colleagues should send an email to the EIN coordination team to be added to the EIN mailing list with their ESRS number to confirm membership.
Being part of EIN provides access to:
– Networking opportunities with European colleagues.
– Participation in working groups.
– Updates on insomnia-related initiatives, publications, and events.
Working Groups
EIN supports focused Working Groups, each dedicated to specific aspects of insomnia research and clinical care.
- We welcome proposals for new Working Groups from EIN members.
- To be recognised as an official EIN Working Group, the group must produce at least one publication (e.g., position paper, review, guideline, or original article) endorsed by its members.
- Each Working Group should define its objectives, deliverables, and timeline in alignment with the broader aims of the EIN.
Proposers: Laura Palagini, Ellemarije Altena, Nicole K.Y. Tang, Dieter Riemann, Anna F. Johann, Chiara Baglioni
- Baglioni C, Tang NKY, Johann AF, Altena E, Bramante A, Riemann D, Palagini L (2020). Insomnia and poor sleep quality during peripartum: a family issue with potential long term consequences on mental health. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.
- Palagini L, Bramante A, Baglioni C, Tang N, Grassi L, Altena E, Johann AF, Geoffroy PA, Biggio G, Mencacci C, Sharma V, Riemann D. (2022) Insomnia evaluation and treatment during peripartum: a joint position paper from the European Insomnia Network task force “Sleep and Women,” the Italian Marcè Society and international experts task force for perinatal mental health. Arch Womens Ment Health.
Publications & Documents
Each citation links to the corresponding publication.
This paper, “Insomnia disorder”, published in Nature Reviews Disease Primers, provides a comprehensive overview of insomnia disorder, covering its prevalence, aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. It examines approaches ranging from genetic and epigenetic research through to cognitive behavioural and psychophysiological models, and reaffirms CBT-I as the recommended first-line treatment.
This paper: “How to deal with sleep problems during heatwaves: practical recommendations from the European Insomnia Network“, reviews the literature on how night-time ambient temperature changes affect body temperature and sleep quality and how these temperature effects impact particularly vulnerable populations.
This paper: “Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia disorder: Extending the stepped care model” from the steering committee of the European Academy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia Disorder on the strengths and challenges of the stepped care model.
This paper: “The European Academy for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia: An initiative of the European Insomnia Network to promote implementation and dissemination of treatment”, covers the whole initiative and gives a comprehensive overview why this Academy is necessary and what are its aims.
This paper: “Dealing with sleep problems during home confinement due to the COVID-19 outbreak: Practical recommendations from a task force of the European CBT-I Academy”, gives cognitive-behavioral recommendation how to deal with sleep problems during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Outlines the European Insomnia Network (EIN), its aims, and its goals as a collaborative research initiative focused on improving the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of insomnia.
The most updated European Guidelines on Assessment and Treatment of Insomnia Disorder.
This document gives guidelines to professionals who want to practice CBT-I and/ or run teaching courses.
This form should be used to suggest new CBT-I teaching courses to the academy´s steering committee.
This is a list of all courses which have been endorsed by the academy up to now.
Resources
Simple Tips for Better Sleep from Every Mind Matters
With everything going on, it can be tricky to get a good night’s sleep. Prof. Colin Espie brings some simple tips to help you get to sleep faster and sleep more soundly.
Events
2026
2025
June: EIN meeting in Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
2024
September: EIN Symposium at the 27th Congress of the ESRS (Sevilla, Spain)
2022
September: EIN Symposium at the 26th Congress of the ESRS (Athens, Greece)
2020
Annual ONLINE 2-day EIN meeting
September: EIN Symposium at the 25 th Congress of the ESRS (ONLINE)
2018
May: EIN meeting and foundation of the European Academy of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia Disorder (CBT-I Academy) in Freiburg (Germany)
September: EIN Symposium at the 24th Congress of the ESRS (Basel, Switzerland)
2017
March: 15 EIN members met in Frankfurt (Germany) to discuss the European Guidelines for Insomnia Evaluation and Treatment
2016
September: EIN Symposium at the 23rd Congress of the ESRS (Bologna, Italy)
December: EIN meeting in Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
2014
September: EIN Symposium at the 22nd Congress of the ESRS (Tallinn, Estonia)
2013
July: EIN meeting in Freiburg (Germany)
2012
July: First EIN meeting in Freiburg (Germany)