Insomnia predicts the onset of depression, commonly co-presents with depression and often persists following depression remission. However, these conditions can be challenging to treat concurrently using depression-specific
therapies. Cognitive behavioural
therapy for
insomnia may be an appropriate treatment to improve both
insomnia and depressive symptoms. We examined the effects of a fully-automated digital cognitive behavioural
therapy intervention for
insomnia (Sleepio) on
insomnia and depressive symptoms, and the mediating role of sleep improvement on depressive symptoms in participants from two randomized controlled trials of digital cognitive behavioural
therapy for
insomnia. We also explored potential moderators of intervention effects. All participants met criteria for probable
insomnia disorder and had clinically significant depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 ≥ 10; n = 3,352). Individuals allocated to treatment in both trials were provided access to digital cognitive behavioural
therapy. Digital cognitive behavioural
therapy significantly improved
insomnia (p < .001; g = 0.76) and depressive symptoms (p < .001; g = 0.48) at post-intervention (weeks 8-10), and increased the odds (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 2.34, 3.65) of clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 < 10). Improvements in
insomnia symptoms at mid-intervention mediated 87% of the effects on depressive symptoms at post-intervention. No variables moderated effectiveness outcomes, suggesting generalizability of these findings. Our results suggest that effects of digital cognitive behavioural
therapy for
insomnia extend to depressive symptoms in those with clinically significant depressive symptomatology.
Insomnia may, therefore, be an important therapeutic target to assist management of depressive symptoms.