The Power Down Pilot Study: A Novel Bedtime Manipulation Protocol

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH · Apr 22, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Power Down Pilot Study is a research project designed to help children with autism, ages 6 to 10, who have trouble settling down to sleep. The study is testing a new bedtime routine called "The Power Down" to see if it is easy for parents to follow each night and if families find it helpful for their child's sleep issues. This study aims to gather feedback from families to understand if this approach works for them.

To participate, children must be between 6 and 10 years old and have a diagnosis of autism. Parents need to report that their child has difficulty settling down at bedtime and experiences sensory sensitivities. Families also need to be located near Pittsburgh and willing to follow the bedtime routine for two weeks. The study is not yet recruiting participants, but it is important for interested families to know that children with certain trauma histories or those who spend most nights at another caregiver's home may not be eligible. Overall, this study hopes to find effective ways to help autistic children get better sleep.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Child between the ages of 6 and 10 years old (at least 40%, no more than 60% female)
• • 2. Parent-reported autism diagnosis for child
• • 3. Parent-reported extended and problematic settling down delay
• • 4. Parent-reported sensory over-responsivity (a "yes" to at least 8 items in the sensory screening section of the checklist)
• • 5. Parent willing to participate in nightly routine during the 2 week study
• • 6. Located within the Pittsburgh area
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Participants will be excluded if they do not understand English or are unable to travel to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital.
• • 2. Children who have trauma or other histories for whom physical touch is triggering (per caregiver report) will be excluded.
• • 3. If a child spends bedtime at a different caregiver's home for \>50% of the nights and that caregiver is not willing to participate in this study, the child will be excluded from this study.