Improving Sleep to Prevent Depression & Anxiety in Adolescents at High Risk

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY · Apr 5, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how improving sleep can help prevent depression and anxiety in teenagers who are at higher risk. Researchers want to see if a short program called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which helps people with sleep problems, can also reduce feelings of sadness and anxiety in adolescents. The study will focus on teenagers aged 12 to 18 who have at least one parent with a history of depression or anxiety but do not have significant mental health issues themselves.

To participate, teens need to have some trouble sleeping, indicated by a score of 10 or higher on a sleep assessment tool. However, those with other serious sleep disorders or untreated mental health issues will not be eligible. If chosen to take part, participants can expect to engage in a brief therapy program designed to improve their sleep. This study aims to gather important information on how better sleep can support mental well-being in young people at risk for depression and anxiety.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Between the ages of 12 and 18.
• • Having at least one parent with a history of depressive or anxiety disorders but having no clinically significant history (per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5) of internalizing disorders themselves.
• • Adolescents who score 10/25 or greater on the Insomnia Severity Index, indicating subthreshold insomnia or greater.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Experiencing symptoms of sleep disorders other than insomnia (i.e. restless legs syndrome \[RLS\], sleep-disordered breathing \[SDB\].
• • Having a history of untreated, serious psychiatric illness (i.e., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
• • Active suicidal ideation.
• • Currently taking prescribed medications for sleep problems.
• • Moderate to severe head injury.