Smartphone-Based Intervention for Sleep Disturbance in Individuals Recovering From Alcohol Use Disorder

In order to assess the efficacy of the rhythm stabilization component of Health Rhythms' product in addressing sleep problems, investigators will recruit 128 outpatients over the age of 18, who are in early recovery (at least 2 weeks but no more than 6 months) from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUDIT-C score >4) and are experiencing sleep problems (ISI score >/= 10). 64 of these individuals will be randomly allocated to receive the full HealthRhythms package (sensing, trending, and stabilization) on their smartphones, while 64 will be asked to consent to sensing only. The duration of the study will be 14 weeks.

The primary outcome measures of the RCT will be the ISI (Insomnia Severity Index). The investigators hypothesize that those receiving the full package will demonstrate lower levels of sleep disturbance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep Disorder; Sleep Disturbance; Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD); Alcohol Abuse With Alcohol-Induced Sleep Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: CueToSleep (Full Intervention Package)

Detailed Description

We will conduct a 14-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) of CueToSleep (behavioral monitoring via smartphone sensors and phone-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia) versus Measure (smartphone-based monitoring only). The sample will be 128 individuals with alcohol use disorder who have been abstinent for at least two weeks and are experiencing sleep difficulties. Using a block randomization scheme, these individuals will be randomly allocated on a 1:1 basis to the experimental condition (CueToSleep) or to the control condition (Measure). The components of the CueToSleep intervention include: 1) education about sleep and its regulation and sleep hygiene; 2) alcohol withdrawal-specific psychoeducation 3) personalized and context-specific suggestions for behavior change to address sleep problems using data obtained from the monitoring portion of CueToSleep; 4) feedback to the user on his/her progress; 5) feedback from the user about the usefulness of the suggestions; 6) adjustment of recommendations based on progress, adherence and feedback from the user.

The primary outcome is change in sleep difficulties as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The study is powered to detect at least medium Cohen's d effect size for this primary outcome. The secondary outcome of interest is proportion relapsing to heavy drinking (≥4 drinks in a day for women; ≥5 drinks in a day for men). Number of drinks consumed on the previous day will be queried daily via smartphone and relapse to heavy drinking will be determined from these participant self-reports.

For our primary outcome, we will fit a 2-level linear mixed effects model with a random intercept and slope to test for group (experimental vs. control) differences in the slope of ISI scores over 14 weeks. This model will regress repeatedly measured ISI score on week, group, the week by group interaction, and covariates (age, sex, living status, employment status). Secondarily, to allow further flexibility in the trajectory of ISI scores over the course of the study, we will fit a mixed effects model with categorical time, and specific contrasts to test changes from baseline to 14 weeks.

For our secondary outcome, we will fit a cox proportional hazards model to regress time to relapse on group and covariates (age, sex, living status, employment status). This model accounts for participants who are censored due to early dropout from the study. Secondarily, we will use simple non-parametric statistics to compare the proportion relapsing to heavy drinking in each group.

All analyses will use an intent-to-treat (ITT) strategy where all participants are included regardless of adherence to the randomized condition.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 141
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
      • University of Utah

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 and older
2. Meets criteria for lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD), as defined by DSM-5
3. Score >/= 4 on AUDIT-C
4. Reports difficulties with sleep and scores >/= 10 on the Insomnia Severity Index
5. Has been in recovery (abstinent) for >/= 2 weeks, but less than 6 months
6. Ability and willingness to provide informed consent
7. Ability to understand and comprehend consent and protocol documents in English.
8. Uses a smartphone compatible with the app.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Psychotic mental disorder other than bipolar disorder
2. Current diagnosis of OCD, anorexia/ bulimia eating disorder, or antisocial personality disorder
3. Acute suicidal ideation with plan or intent
4. Meet DSM-5 criteria for current moderate to severe substance use disorder (SUD)
5. Unable to comply with study procedures or protocols

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Behavioral: CueToSleep (Full Intervention Package); Individuals will be randomly allocated to receive the full Health Rhythms package (CueToSleep) program on their smartphones. The package includes 24/7 behavioral sensing from the participant's smartphone using the global positioning system, accelerometer, and screen on/off state, as well as a series of psychoeducational learning screens about the relationship among alcohol, mood disturbance and sleep, and personalized suggestions for behavior change to improve sleep that will be sent to the participant every 3 to 4 days. These suggestions will be based on behaviors indicated by the individual participant's sensor data over the previous 3 to 4 days.	Behavioral: CueToSleep (Full Intervention Package); Individuals will be randomly allocated to receive the full Health Rhythms package (CueToSleep) program on their smartphones. The package includes 24/7 behavioral sensing from the participant's smartphone using the global positioning system, accelerometer, and screen on/off state, as well as a series of psychoeducational learning screens about the relationship among alcohol, mood disturbance and sleep, and personalized suggestions for behavior change to improve sleep that will be sent to the participant every 3 to 4 days. These suggestions will be based on behaviors indicated by the individual participant's sensor data over the previous 3 to 4 days.
No Intervention: Measure (Behavioral Sensing Only); Individuals will only be monitored using the passive sensing capabilities of the Full Intervention Package on their smartphones. These participants will not receive psychoeducational learning screens or behavior change suggestions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Insomnia Severity Index	The Insomnia Severity Index are self-reported perceptions of sleep	Change from Baseline at 3, 6,10 and 14 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Relapse to Heavy Drinking	Patient self report	Daily over the course of 14 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: HealthRhythms, Inc.
• Collaborators: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ellen Frank, PhD, Health Rhythms

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 6, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 23, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 23, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 27, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 30, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 1, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 28, 2024
• Last Verified: June 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Drinking Behavior; Nervous System Diseases; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Sleep Wake Disorders; Dyssomnias; Parasomnias
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0799011810000

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No