Audio-visual Stimulation: Sleep Dose Response

January 4, 2022 updated by: Jean Tang, University of Washington
Osteoarthritis (OA) pain affects 50 percent of older adults, more than half of whom also experience significant sleep disturbance. This study examines the impact of an innovative audiovisual stimulation (AVS) program on human brainwaves, and its usefulness to improve sleep. The AVS intervention, if demonstrated to be efficacious for sleep promotion, could benefit millions of people worldwide.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 50% of older adults. Common comorbidities associated with OA include poor sleep, pain, depression, and fatigue. OA patients with insomnia tend to report greater pain than those without insomnia. A recent systematic review concluded that sleep disturbance is a stronger predictor of chronic pain than vice versa. Standard treatment options for insomnia are medication and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Prescription medication has good short term efficacy but benefits do not persist after treatment discontinuation and there are notable side effects. Treatment effects for CBT-I are comparable to or exceed those for medications, and have been shown efficacious for persons with OA pain. However, CBT-I practitioners are not yet available in many healthcare systems. New, effective, and easy-to-use self-management alternatives could greatly help reduce the burden of insomnia and potentially decrease pain, depression, and fatigue in individuals with OA. We propose to test a novel, easily-used, self-management intervention to improve OA-related insomnia, pain, depression and fatigue: open-loop neurofeedback Audio Visual Stimulation (AVS). AVS uses preprogrammed light and sound patterns to evoke brainwave potentials at pre-set designated frequencies. The AVS intervention consists of 30 minutes of light and sound pulsing stimuli that gradually descend from alpha (10 Hz) to delta (2 Hz) frequencies. AVS placebo consists of 30 minutes of constant dim light slowly changing in color, and a steady monotone at ultra-low frequency (below 1 Hz). This proposed study builds upon our successful completion of three pilot studies using AVS. Based on the pilot findings, we hypothesize that the use of active AVS at bedtime induces delta brainwaves, but additional testing is needed to determine how long AVS should be used to produce significant improvements in subjective sleep quality relative to placebo control. In addition, we propose to experimentally test the effect of blue light, which is known to suppress melatonin production, as a potential confounding variable in the AVS intervention. We propose a trial of AVS in 75 community dwelling older adults with chronic comorbid insomnia and OA pain. After baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to 3 groups: AVS-1 (red, green & blue light) vs. AVS-2 (red & green light only) vs. placebo AVS. Participants will self-administer AVS at bedtime nightly for one month. QEEG will be measured at baseline, and then at 2, 3 and 4 weeks to evaluate neurological responses to AVS over time. Insomnia severity will be similarly assessed to determine the most efficacious AVS treatment duration and color array for improving insomnia symptoms. OA-related symptoms (pain, depression, and fatigue) and objective sleep outcomes will also be assessed. Data will inform a definitive RCT of AVS for insomnia and relative OA symptoms.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
72

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98195
        • University of Washington

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 60+ with insomnia and nonmalignant OA pain most days
  • Insomnia Severity Index (ISI): >= 12
  • Sleep problems >=3 times per week for >=6 months
  • Brief Pain Inventory (BPI): average pain >=4 and < 10
  • Osteoarthritis pain for >=6 months;
  • Blessed Telephone Information-Memory-Concentration Test (TIMC) < 7
  • Presence of sleep onset complaint (latency >30 minutes on PSQI OR ISI sub-scales); may also have sleep maintenance or early morning awakening complaints

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Seizure disorder
  • Migraine
  • Photosensitivity
  • Prior diagnosis of a primary sleep disorder
  • Sleep apnea with an AHI/RDI score >=5 or current use of a CPAP machine
  • Periodic leg movement disorder
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Rapid eye movement behavior disorder
  • Sleep-wake cycle disturbance
  • Unusual sleep schedule (i.e. shift worker)
  • 400 mg daily caffeine intake (4 cups of 8 oz brewed coffee/tea)
  • 3 or more alcoholic drinks/day
  • Diagnosis of: rheumatoid arthritis
  • Terminal disease, pending major surgery
  • Active chemotherapy or radiation for cancer
  • Inpatient treatment for congestive heart failure within the previous 6 months
  • Dementia diagnosis
  • Use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and/or memantine for cognitive impairmen
  • Use of psychoactive medications (stimulants, sedative hypnotics, anxiolytics, antipsychotics) or recreational drugs including marijuana.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Active AVS-1
Active AVS-1 consists of a 30-minute pulsing lights (red, green, blue) and sounds that gradually descend from alpha (10 Hz) to delta (2 Hz).
Device: Audiovisual Stimulation
A commercially available AVS device (MindPlace Procyon) modified for use in the current study will be used to deliver the AVS programs in this study.
Experimental: Active AVS-2
Active AVS-2 consists of a 30-minute pulsing lights (red, green) and sounds that gradually descend from alpha (10 Hz) to delta (2 Hz).
Device: Audiovisual Stimulation
A commercially available AVS device (MindPlace Procyon) modified for use in the current study will be used to deliver the AVS programs in this study.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo AVS
The placebo control AVS program consists of 30 minutes of constant dim light that slowly changes in color, and a steady monotone at ultra-low (<1 Hz) frequency (outside of the entrainment range).
Device: Audiovisual Stimulation
A commercially available AVS device (MindPlace Procyon) modified for use in the current study will be used to deliver the AVS programs in this study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Insomnia of Severity Index
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
A 7-item questionnaire that is a global measure of perceived insomnia severity. Items use a 5-point scale for total scores of 0-28, with >15 considered moderate severity. The ISI has good internal consistency and is sensitive to changes in sleep of older adults in clinical and research.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG)
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Cortical activity will be evaluated using a 19-channel quantitative electroencephalographic system (Discovery 24E, BrainMaster) with a standard electrode cap that has 22 sensors attaching to the scalp.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Actigraphy
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Sleep and wake pattern (actigraph) will be measured by Philips Respironics Actiwatch-2. Actigraphy is a reliable and objective tool to monitor sleep-wake cycles in ambulatory individuals (including older adults) based on frequency and magnitude of movements.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Self-rating of overall sleep quality and disturbances using 7 sleep components. A PSQI global score >5 is highly sensitive and specific for distinguishing good and poor sleepers.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) short form
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
The BPI is a 9-item questionnaire that assesses severity of pain, impact of pain on daily function, location of pain, pain medications and amount of pain relief in the past 24 hours or the past week.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Patient Health Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
The PHQ-9 is a 9-item reliable, valid, measure that rates depression symptom severity on a 4-point scale.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Sleep Diary
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
A 7-day diary including: bed and rise times, number of nighttime awakenings, total wake time, and morning refreshment. Participants will also report sleep and pain medication, subjective sleep quality, and pain.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
Flinders Fatigue Scale
Time Frame: A 7-item self-report questionnaire to measure fatigue level in a variety of situations. It has strong internal reliability and validity, and been used to measure fatigue with older adults
A 7-item self-report questionnaire to measure fatigue level in a variety of situations. It has strong internal reliability and validity, and been used to measure fatigue with older adults.
A 7-item self-report questionnaire to measure fatigue level in a variety of situations. It has strong internal reliability and validity, and been used to measure fatigue with older adults
General Anxiety Disorder-7
Time Frame: Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline
A 7-item self-report questionnaire to measure anxiety level in a variety of situations.
Baseline through 4 weeks post baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Washington

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jean Tang, PhD, University of Washington

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 15, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 31, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 31, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 15, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 25, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 26, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 20, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 4, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00005084
  • 1R21NR017446-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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