Improving Sleep in Veterans With the Polytrauma Clinical Triad

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-89
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development

About this trial

The "polytrauma clinical triad" (PCT), a highly disabling constellation of factors, is defined by the coexistence of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. Veterans with the PCT are medically complex, often refractory to conventional therapies, and suffer from additional related chronic sequela. Notably, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, which the investigators hypothesize are significant contributing factors to these functional impairments and an impediment toward rehabilitation. Thus, the investigators' research aims to intervene "at the level of sleep", and by improving sleep, improve these interconnected, disabling, and difficult to treat enduring complexities associated with the PCT - ultimately to improve Veteran quality of life, functional independence, and restorative function. The investigators predict that the proposed intervention, morning bright light therapy, which is cost-effective, rapidly deployable and home-based, will be effective in improving sleep and overall PCT symptom management, thereby, resulting in a measurable and impactful improvement in quality of life.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Veteran

English speaking with phone and internet access

Current self-reported sleep disturbances

Clinical stable for current pharmacologic or behavioral health treatments for depression, anxiety, sleep and pain

Disqualifiers

Decisional impairment and/or dementia

Current usage of a lightbox or negative ion generator

Shift work

History of macular degeneration and/or bipolar disorder

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Morning Bright Light Therapy
  • Negative Ion Generator

Treatment groups

96 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups