Exploring Substance Use, Sleep Disturbances and Reward Sensitivity

Launched by KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL · Jun 11, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how substance use, sleep problems, and the way people respond to rewards are connected. Researchers hope that by understanding these links better, they can improve treatments for people struggling with substance or alcohol misuse. Participants in the study will be divided into two groups: one will receive cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi), which is a type of counseling to help improve sleep, and the other will get basic sleep education. Throughout the study, the team will check on participants’ substance use, sleep quality, and how sensitive they are to rewards at different times.

To take part, individuals need to be receiving treatment at certain clinics and have had problems with substance or alcohol use in the past three months, as well as sleep difficulties. Participants must be able to understand and read Cantonese, and they should not have severe mental health issues, work night shifts, be pregnant, or have certain medical conditions that affect sleep. If eligible, participants can expect to be involved in sleep-focused programs and assessments that will help researchers learn more about how improving sleep might support better outcomes in substance use treatment. This study is not yet recruiting, so if you or a loved one fits these criteria and are interested, you may want to check back later for updates.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Individuals who receive treatment services at Substance Abuse Assessment Clinic and other psychiatric out-patient clinics of Kwai Chung Hospital;
• • 2. Individuals who have problematic substance or alcohol use in the past 3 months, confirmed by scores higher than or equal to 1 in both part 1 and part 2 of Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS);
• • 3. Individuals who have sleep disturbances, confirmed by a score higher than or equal to 8 on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Individuals who cannot understand Cantonese, or cannot read Traditional Chinese
• • 2. Individuals who cannot provide informed consent due to, for example, intoxication or abnormal mental state
• • 3. Individuals who report abnormal or unstable mental states, such as active psychotic symptoms or acute intoxication, at any point of the study
• • 4. Individuals who work overnight or have rotating shifts
• • 5. Individuals who report pregnancy or medical conditions (including sleep apnea) that may have a severe impact on sleep
• • 6. Individuals who use hypnotics regularly