Insomnia Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Insomnia Clinical Trials?

Insomnia is characterized by persistent sleep irregularities. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans doesn’t get enough sleep. This is a cause for concern, as a good night’s sleep is imperative for overall well-being. Generally, adults require 7-9 hours of sleep, and children need 9 to 13 hours of sleep every night.

Lack of sleep can make you vulnerable to various chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, insufficient sleep incurs the risk of vehicle accidents and decreased productivity at work.

The increased incidence of sleep disorders like insomnia has led to research on the subject. Most insomnia clinical trials explore the effectiveness of various behavioral and pharmacological interventions to treat the sleep disorder.

Why is Insomnia Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Insomnia is a common but overlooked condition. Research shows that insomnia affects 10% to 30% of the world’s population, a significant number. Sleep health plays an important role in the advent of chronic disease, so it needs proper recourse. The quality and duration of sleep are predictors of Hemoglobin A1c levels, a marker of blood sugar. Insomnia is a risk factor for hypertension, stroke, and angina.

As mental health disorders are rising, researchers explore the role sleep plays in mental well-being. According to studies, people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to develop depression than people with a healthy sleep routine.

Insomnia not only affects physical and mental health but also has an economic burden, which mandates the need for insomnia clinical trials. Insomnia affects approximately 23% of U.S. workers, amounting to $63.2 billion in lost productivity annually.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available for Insomnia?

Identifying insomnia risk factors like stress, mental illness, and medications and making the required changes in your life can increase the chances of restful sleep. However, there is no guarantee that these methods will work. In such an event, doctors would consult proper treatment according to the severity and implications of your condition:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often used to help rewire your brain and eliminate negative thoughts that might keep you awake at night. Some common strategies include:

• Stimulus Control Therapy
• Light Therapy
• Relaxation Techniques

Doctors may also advise the following prescription medicines to induce a proper night’s sleep:

• Zaleplon
• Eszopiclone
• Quazepam
• Doxepin

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Insomnia?

There have been several landmark studies involving insomnia in recent years. Some of the most recent studies are:

2023: Andrea Cipriani, a Psychiatry Professor at the University of Oxford and a consultant psychiatrist at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, found two pharmacological drugs that are more effective in treating insomnia compared to existing medications. The Oxford study claimed that eszopiclone and lemborexant exhibited enhanced performance in treating acute and long-term insomnia. This study, the largest to date, included 154 double-blind trials with 44,000 people prescribed to randomized drugs to conclude the study.

2019: While scientists always believed that insomnia was one condition, a recent study found 5 types of insomnia, each with its characteristics, risk factors, effects, and treatment response. The classification of the different types of insomnia is a breakthrough in relaying better treatment to patients depending on their type of insomnia.

Who Are Some Of The Key Opinion Leaders / Researchers / Institutions Conducting Insomnia Clinical Trials Research?

The Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program is headed by John Winkelman, MD, PhD. It is a section of the Outpatient Psychiatry Division of Massachusetts General Hospital. This research program is dedicated to investigative, clinical efforts about sleep disorders like Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED), Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), and Insomnia.

The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR) is dedicated to researching various sleep disorders. It funds ventures investigating circadian biology to promote better sleep health and mitigate the incidence of serious health conditions prompted by sleep disorders.