Predictors of Response to Insomnia Treatments for Gulf War Veterans

Insomnia Clinical Trial

Official title: Predictors of Response to Insomnia Treatments for Gulf War Veterans

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of Sleep Restriction (SR) and Cognitive Therapy (CT) in Gulf War Veterans with insomnia.

The primary hypothesis is that the efficacy of these treatments will depend upon an individual subject's baseline characteristics. For SR we expect that baseline measures of "excessive time spent in bed" may predict response and for CT we expect that baseline measures of cognitive arousal and pain may predict response. Exploratory analyses using signal detection techniques will systematically compare and contrast the potential usefulness of a number of additional potential moderator measures.

Insomnia is a serious health problem in Gulf War Veterans that is often associated with extensive prescription of sleeping medications. Although safer, even the latest medications can lead to cognitive impairment and risk of abuse. Thus, non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia have been pursued as alternatives to medications. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) combines behavioral and cognitive components of therapy to address symptoms of insomnia. The combined CBT-I approach has well-documented efficacy. Between 2012 and 2014 over 650 VA mental health clinicians have received extensive training in CBT-I. Although CBT-I is efficacious, the optimal target populations for its major components has not yet been well-defined for Gulf War Veterans. We propose to address this gap and develop tools for clinicians to identify the best treatment for insomnia for individual Gulf War Veterans.

Clinical Trial Description

Our hypotheses will be tested in a randomized parallel groups design. Randomization will be based on type of treatment assignment: either to SR or CT. After screening and randomization in the 2-week baseline phase, subjects will receive SR or CT in the 6-week treatment phase. There will be no more treatment after this point. At the end of the 6-week treatment, subjects will return to repeat many of the psychological tests administered during baseline to determine the short-term benefit. This 4-year proposal will include 100 subjects (2 groups of 50 each) with outcome, mediator, and moderator measures collected at appropriate points.

All subjects will receive education about basic sleep hygiene as well as information about the science of sleep including sleep stages and sleep regulation.

Sleep Restriction Therapy (SR). The initial Time in Bed (TIB) prescription is calculated from the average total sleep time (TST) reported in the baseline sleep logs. After one week, depending on subject's daily sleep logs and adherence to treatment, the therapist suggests a new TIB prescription. Napping is neither prescribed nor proscribed. However, if subjects find themselves having difficulty staying awake during the day, they are advised to take a brief (15 to 30 minutes) nap to ensure their safety.

Cognitive Therapy (CT). CT is designed to meet three general goals: 1) identify dysfunctional sleep cognitions, 2) challenge the validity of these thoughts, and 3) replace them with more adaptive substitutes. Several specific techniques designed to meet these goals are discussed in materials distributed to subjects.

We will continue to monitor progress post-treatment during the follow-up period. The complete package of outcome measures will be repeated at the follow-up session. We will tell subjects that we expect the benefits of treatment to continue and/or improve with time and we will also encourage subjects to continue practicing the treatment instructions to maintain their progress after active treatment ends.

Subjects will be screened for eligibility via a phone interview and an in-person evaluation.

At the in-person evaluation, informed consent will be received and documented. The evaluation will consist of measures of cognitive impairment and depression, sleep disturbance, and medical and psychiatric history. Exclusion criteria will be evaluated by the following measures: Acute/Unstable Chronic Illness Checklist, Berlin Questionnaire, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the Duke Structured Interview for Sleep Disorders (Duke), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Life Stressor Checklist, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Version 5 (MINI), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Sleep Related Behavior Questionnaire, and the Thought Control Questionnaire Insomnia-Revised (TCQI). At Palo Alto, subjects will additionally be provided with and instructed in the use of at-home PSG equipment. A 24-channel EEG cap will be placed on the participant's head before they leave to ensure accurate recordings are obtained. The PSG will be completed in the subject's own home and be used to screen for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). Subjects will return to the lab the next morning to have the equipment removed.

At each visit during Weeks 1-8 and again at Week 32, participants will complete the Anxiety and Preoccupation about Sleep Questionnaire (APSQ), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Sleep diaries will be completed through the treatment phase (Weeks 1-8) and again at follow-up (Week 32).

The following measures will be completed at weeks 1, 8, and 32:

American Urological Association-8 (AUA-8) Nocturia Subscale; Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF); Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS); Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS); Glasgow Content of Thoughts; Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale; Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ); Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); and the SF-36 (RAND).

Subjects will be evaluated on Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire at weeks 1, 2, 8 and 32.

Subjects will be evaluated on the Sleep Associated Monitoring Index (SAMI) at weeks 1 and 8.

At Palo Alto, subjects will be evaluated on the Trail Making Test, MOCA, Color Word Interference Test, and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) at weeks 1 and 32.

Following the completion of treatment at Week 7, subjects will complete the Treatment Adherence Survey, Treatment Satisfaction Survey, and Working Alliance Inventory. The Working Alliance Inventory will also be given at the second treatment session (Week 3).

Blood will be drawn at Baseline and Week 32 to measure levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Urine samples will be collected during each of the 3 study phases to monitor abstinence from recreational drugs, with the exception of medical marijuana used less than four times per week. Samples will be collected by nurses at the VA Clinical Studies Unit and analyzed by the VA laboratory. Remaining blood will be banked for analysis of genetic factors.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants may complete all study sessions including the evaluations through telehealth. The telehealth study will still be available even after in-person research has resumed.

For participants completing the study through telehealth, we will not collect the following measures: urine screen, blood draw, overnight PSG, Trail Making Test, or Color Word Interference test. For telehealth participants, the MOCA-Blind may replace the MOCA. All other measures can feasibly be done through telehealth. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Insomnia
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

• NCT number: NCT03208049
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 1, 2017
• Completion date: May 21, 2023