In this study, the investigators will recruit young adults (ages 18-25 years) with elevated anxiety/depression symptoms and sleep disturbance. Participants will complete two overnights in a sleep lab. During one of the overnights, slow-wave activity will be enhanced by delivering sub-arousal auditory tones during slow-wave sleep using a headband device (Philips SmartSleep or Dreem 2). During the other overnight, tones will not be administered. Cognitive and emotional processes will be evaluated using behavioral task performance, self-report, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). After the second overnight, participants will take the headband device home and wear it every night for approximately 2 weeks. For half of the participants, the headband will play tones every night and, for the other half, the headband will not play tones. Participants will then return for a final testing visit in which cognitive and emotional processes and anxiety/depression symptoms will be assessed using behavioral task performance and self-report.
Age 18-25. Equal numbers of men and women will be included.
Normal hearing.
Elevated anxiety or depression symptoms. This will be determined using the PROMIS anxiety and PROMIS depression scales. Participants with T-scores ≥ 60 (i.e., ≥ than 1 standard deviation above the mean) on either or both scales will be eligible for participation.
Elevated sleep disturbance. This will be determined using the PROMIS sleep disturbance scale. Participants with T-scores ≥ 55 on the PROMIS sleep disturbance scale will be eligible for participation.
Presence of a severe chronic or psychiatric condition including psychosis, bipolar disorder, developmental disorders, or substance use disorder.
Current use of psychotropic medications or medications affecting sleep/wake function, such as antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, steroids, and stimulants. Rationale: These medications may affect sleep and cognitive-emotional function.
Substance abuse. Rationale: Substance abuse may affect sleep and cognitive-emotional function.
Consumption of > 14 standard alcoholic drinks per week. Rationale: excessive alcohol consumption may interfere with sleep and cognitive-emotional function.
Michelle Stepan
Lead sponsor
University of Pittsburgh
Sponsor institution
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Collaborator