The latest digital therapies, prescribed and monitored by clinicians, could make treatment more convenient for patients across the UK

In May 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released a landmark recommendation. NICE, which evaluates new drugs and medical technologies for the NHS, concluded that Sleepio – a digital treatment for insomnia – should be considered by GPs as an effective and cost-saving alternative to sleeping pills.

It meant that Sleepio, which uses evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques for people experiencing insomnia, became the first digital therapeutic in the UK to receive the NICE stamp of approval.