Adjunctive Brief Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia (BBTI) for Sleep Intervention (SI)

March 17, 2017 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development

An Adjunctive Behavioral Sleep Intervention to Prevent Veteran Suicides

There is a strong association between sleep disturbance and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Sleep disturbance is also highly comorbid with other common conditions associated with suicide such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Accordingly, this application focuses on improving sleep as a novel suicide prevention strategy that can be delivered to a broad range of Veterans. This pilot proposal specifically examines how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, an efficacious treatment for insomnia, may reduce suicidal ideation in Veterans who also suffer from additional conditions. The proposal further suggests that adding this sleep intervention to usual care may further enhance overall care by increasing the utilization of recommended treatments for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Anticipated Benefit to VA Healthcare The proposed study will establish proof of concept that suicidal ideation can be reduced by adjunctively treating insomnia, a common problem that is both a risk factor for suicide and highly prevalent in common conditions associated with suicide such as depression and PTSD. In addition, to the extent that insomnia is improved, the investigators expect to both enhance Veteran's quality of life and increase their engagement with treatments for co-occurring conditions.

Project Background Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S., is a major concern of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and occurs at elevated rates among Veterans. Veterans with common chronic conditions such as PTSD, depression, substance abuse and chronic pain are at increased risk for suicide. Although evidence-based treatments exist for these conditions, a significant number of Veterans do not engage in or complete such treatments. This application focuses on an intervention target that co-occurs in each of the listed conditions at high rates and is itself an independent risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors: the sleep disturbance of insomnia. Therefore, this proposal examines the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), an efficacious intervention that targets insomnia, as a novel way to reduce suicidal ideation in at-risk Veterans. Importantly, CBT-I has been successfully used in patients with PTSD and depression. Preliminary evidence from an uncontrolled trial in civilians suggests that CBT-I may also decrease suicidal ideation, but this has not been tested in Veterans, in the context of treatments for co-occurring conditions, or in a controlled trial.

Project Objectives The ultimate goal of the broader program of research is to reduce suicide among Veterans, while the proposed pilot project will provide data to guide the development of a larger trial. The primary objectives of this pilot project are to test whether using CBT-I as an adjunctive treatment: (1) is feasible to deliver in the context of other ongoing care and acceptable to participants; (2) can reduce the severity of suicidal ideation among Veterans at risk for suicide; and (3) can increase rates of engagement in treatments that address the co-morbid conditions that also put them at risk for suicide. The latter objective will help refine the study methods, design, and intervention in anticipation of a larger trial.

Project Methods In order to achieve these proof-of-concept objectives the investigators will conduct a small randomized clinical trial. Veterans who are either flagged as high risk for suicide or who have depression or PTSD will be recruited from VA sites only. Approximately 56 such Veterans who also endorse current suicidal ideation and current insomnia will be randomized to receive either treatment-as-usual or a 4-session CBT-I treatment in addition to treatment-as-usual. All participants will be encouraged to continue or to seek treatment for co-occurring conditions as recommended by their VA treatment providers. Assessments of suicidal ideation, insomnia, depression, PTSD, and quality of life will be conducted at baseline and following the treatment period. In addition, the investigators will collect provider and participant feedback at an exit interview immediately following the post-treatment assessment. The investigators will use multiple linear and logistic regression models to assess the effect of treatment on outcome measures across the study assessment time points.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

54

Phase

  • 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
    • New York
      • Syracuse, New York, United States, 13210
        • Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • English speaking male and female Veterans ages 18-70;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the informed consent;
  • seeking or receiving services at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center (VAMC) or Rochester Outpatient Clinic;
  • endorse death/suicidal ideation on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
  • either (i) a current diagnosis in their medical record of Major Depressive Disorder, Depression not otherwise specified, PTSD,or (ii) evidence of current depression as indicated by a score of > 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or current PTSD as indicated by a score of > 38 on the PTSD Symptom Checklist (PCL-5)();
  • have an Insomnia Severity Index score > 10 indicating clinically meaningful insomnia with at least 1 insomnia-related daytime consequence (score of 1 on item #3) and trouble sleeping 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, Bipolar I or II disorder, or current psychiatric conditions such as psychosis, mania, dementia, cognitive impairment, OR suicidal ideation with plan and intent, a report of a suicide attempt in the past 6 months in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) or via self-report, or a score of 4 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
  • currently engaged in inpatient or partial hospitalization programs or ongoing/pending medical procedures that could inhibit sleep
  • recent substance dependence disorder with < 3 months in remission or abstinence;
  • suspicion of or evidence of untreated sleep apnea.
  • Diagnosis of a circadian rhythm disorder
  • Diagnosis of Narcolepsy
  • History of Seizures

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: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CBT-I + TAU
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), an evidence-based insomnia treatment. In this study it will be delivered in four individual sessions as an adjunctive treatment to treatment as usual (TAU).
Behavioral: CBT-I
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), an evidence-based insomnia treatment. In this study it will be delivered in four individual sessions.
Other: TAU
Treatment as Usual: All participants will be encouraged to begin or continue treatment of co-occurring conditions as recommended by treatment providers. This may include treatment within the primary care teams, through behavioral telehealth, and/or specialty outpatient mental health. Participants randomized to TAU may receive pharmacotherapy for insomnia, though CBT-I will be precluded until after the post-treatment assessments.
Active Comparator: TAU
Treatment as Usual: All participants will be encouraged to begin or continue treatment of co-occurring conditions as recommended by treatment providers. This may include treatment within the primary care teams, through behavioral telehealth, and/or specialty outpatient mental health. Participants randomized to TAU may receive pharmacotherapy for insomnia, though CBT-I will be precluded until after the post-treatment assessments.
Other: TAU
Treatment as Usual: All participants will be encouraged to begin or continue treatment of co-occurring conditions as recommended by treatment providers. This may include treatment within the primary care teams, through behavioral telehealth, and/or specialty outpatient mental health. Participants randomized to TAU may receive pharmacotherapy for insomnia, though CBT-I will be precluded until after the post-treatment assessments.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
Time Frame: post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)
The entire Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) will be administered, but the investigators will use its' Suicidal Ideation Intensity scale (0-25 score range summed from five items, with higher scores indicating more severe suicidal ideation) as the primary outcome.
post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Perceived Treatment Beliefs (PTS)
Time Frame: post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)
A 21-item measure (with items ranging from 1-7) based on the theory of planned behavior and designed to assess beliefs about treatment and plans to engage in treatment in military populations. This measure will focus on engagement in PTSD and depression treatments. The total score has a range of 21-147 with higher scores indicating higher likelihood of engaging in care.
post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time Frame: post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)
A well-validated 9-item self-report measure developed to assess depression severity; higher scores are associated with greater severity (range of 0-27 with higher scores indicating more severe depression severity).
post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Time Frame: post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)
A well-validated 7-item self-report measure developed to assess insomnia severity; higher scores are associated with greater severity (range of 0-28 with higher scores indicating greater insomnia severity).
post-treatment (~6-8 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Wilfred R Pigeon, PhD, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY

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

February 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 22, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

September 25, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 28, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 17, 2017

Last Verified

March 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PPO 13-373
  • I21HX001473 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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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