Sleep Extension for Mental Health Disorders

Overseen By Katherine Seldin, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago

Must not be taking: Sleep medications

Disqualifiers: Sleep apnea, Medical morbidities, Psychiatric, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether extending sleep can improve sleep quality and mood in young adults with mood symptoms such as depression or anxiety. It compares a sleep-focused program (Sleep Extension) to a general health education program to determine which is more effective. Researchers will track participants using devices like FitBits to monitor sleep and will use questionnaires to assess changes in sleep and mood. Ideal candidates for this study are young adults who sleep less than 7 hours a night, experience mood symptoms, and live in areas with noticeable environmental disturbances like noise.

As an unphased trial, this study provides participants the opportunity to contribute to valuable research that could enhance understanding of sleep's impact on mood.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes participants who are taking medications for sleep, so if you are on such medications, you would not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that this digital sleep extension intervention is safe for young urban adults with mood symptoms?

Research has shown that better sleep can improve mental health. Studies have found that improved sleep can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. For instance, one study found that enhancing sleep led to a noticeable improvement in overall mental health. Another study showed that non-drug sleep methods improved sleep and could also enhance both mental and physical health.

This trial tests a digital sleep program, which includes short weekly phone coaching and sleep education. Since the study uses non-drug methods, it is generally easy to manage and poses minimal risk. Similar sleep programs have shown no evidence of harmful side effects, making them a safe choice for those seeking to improve sleep and mood. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about sleep extension as a potential treatment for mental health disorders because it focuses on improving sleep quality and duration, which is an often overlooked aspect of mental health care. Unlike traditional medications that target neurotransmitter levels, this approach uses sleep-related psychoeducation and personalized coaching to help individuals meet their sleep goals. By enhancing sleep health, it could offer a natural and non-invasive way to alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders, offering a promising complement or alternative to existing therapies.

What evidence suggests that this sleep extension intervention could be effective for improving sleep and mood in young adults with mood symptoms?

This trial will compare Sleep Extension with Healthy Living psychoeducation. Studies have shown that better sleep can lead to improved mental health. Research suggests that digital tools, such as the Sleep Extension program tested in this trial, can improve sleep and reduce issues like insomnia and depression. Participants in sleep extension programs reported longer sleep durations. This is important because better sleep often enhances mood and overall well-being. Overall, evidence supports that improving sleep can aid in addressing mental health issues. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer Duffecy, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Illinois Chicago

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young urban adults experiencing mood symptoms and sleep issues, such as nocturnal eating-drinking syndrome or parasomnia. Participants must be willing to receive weekly phone coaching, use sleep monitoring devices like FitBit and Somnofy, and complete several questionnaires.

Inclusion Criteria

Sleeping less than 7 hours per night

Perceived neighborhood disorder

Possession of a smart phone capable of running the Somnofy app

Exclusion Criteria

Presence of significant medical morbidities or psychiatric problems, or chronic substance use

Non-English speaking (unable to participate in therapy or questionnaire)

Traveling for 2 weeks or more during the 10-week study period (due to loss of data from participants not sleeping in their home where the Somnofy device has been set up)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive 6 weeks of brief once weekly telephone coaching and read once weekly educational content. Sleep is monitored daily with a FitBit and Somnofy sleep device.

6 weeks

6 visits (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, responding to questionnaires 4 weeks after completing the intervention.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Healthy Living Psychoeducation
• Sleep Extension

Trial Overview

The study tests if a digital intervention aimed at extending sleep can improve both sleep quality and mood in participants compared to those receiving general healthy living advice. The impact of environmental factors on the intervention's effectiveness will also be assessed.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Sleep Extension Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Sleep-related psychoeducation will be provided in weekly lesson content. Phone coaching will revolve around sleep health and meeting sleep goals.

Group II: Healthy Living Active Control 1 Intervention

Psychoeducation about general health (e.g., hand washing) will be provided in weekly lesson content. Phone coaches will not provide counseling or goal setting but may clarify terms or concepts.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Chicago

Lead Sponsor

Trials

653

Recruited

1,574,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 92 adults with short sleep duration (average of 5:49 hours) found that 84% of participants were interested in interventions to increase their sleep, particularly using wrist-worn devices.

Participants with sleep disorders, such as insomnia, showed a higher interest in sleep extension interventions, indicating that wearable technology could be a promising solution for those struggling with sleep issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predictors of Intervention Interest Among Individuals With Short Sleep Duration. Adkins, EC., DeYonker, O., Duffecy, J., et al.[2020]

A meta-analysis of 40 studies found that light interventions significantly improve sleep quality and timing in individuals with circadian rhythm disorders and neuropsychiatric conditions, with notable effects on sleep continuity and self-reported disturbances.

Avoiding evening light exposure was linked to increased total sleep time, suggesting that light management could be a beneficial strategy for enhancing sleep in psychiatric populations, warranting further research and tailored interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Light therapies to improve sleep in intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorders and neuro-psychiatric illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Faulkner, SM., Bee, PE., Meyer, N., et al.[2021]

Mindfulness-based interventions show promise in improving sleep for individuals with psychiatric disorders, particularly in those with anxiety and depression, although the evidence is still limited.

There is a need for more well-controlled studies specifically designed to target sleep through mindfulness strategies, as current improvements may be more related to reductions in psychiatric symptoms rather than direct effects on sleep.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Strategies for Improving Sleep in People with Psychiatric Disorders. Peters, AL., Saunders, WJ., Jackson, ML.[2023]

In a study of 38 adults with sleep duration less than 7 hours, the combination of a Fitbit and coaching showed potential for improving sleep duration, although the results were not statistically significant compared to a self-management control group.

Coaching alone led to significant improvements in sleep-related impairment, highlighting that while all interventions were feasible and acceptable, the added accountability from coaching may enhance the effectiveness of sleep extension strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A feasibility study to understand the components of behavioral sleep extension. Baron, KG., Trela-Hoskins, SR., Duffecy, J., et al.[2023]

This umbrella review analyzed 35 systematic reviews and meta-analyses to evaluate non-pharmacological sleep health interventions in primarily healthy populations, highlighting effective strategies such as later school start times, behavior change methods, and mind-body exercises.

While some interventions like sleep education and relaxation techniques showed potential benefits for sleep quality, the evidence was less consistent, indicating a need for further research to solidify these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleep Health Promotion Interventions and Their Effectiveness: An Umbrella Review. Albakri, U., Drotos, E., Meertens, R.[2021]

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