Sleep and Circadian Interventions for College Students at High Risk of Suicide

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-25
SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh

About this trial

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which delivering sleep and circadian focused interventions in addition to evidenced based psychiatric care for depression and suicide risk may contribute to decreasing suicide risk among high risk young adults. Investigators will evaluate three interventions targeting sleep in acutely suicidal college students enrolled in intensive outpatient treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups:

1. Triple Chronotherapy (TCT)+ Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TSC) 2. Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TSC) 3. Sleep Feedback (SF) Participants will be followed for 6 months with primary outcome domains of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and depression evaluated by blinded clinicians at short (Days 1-4 of intervention), medium (2 months) and long (6 month) term intervals.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Enrolled or planning to enroll in treatment at COSTAR Intensive Outpatient Program

English language fluency and literacy sufficient to engage in study protocol

Suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in past month

Clinically significant sleep disturbance, operationalized as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global PSQI score >= 7, and/or delayed bedtimes (>midnight), and/or >2 hours in sleep timing variability

Disqualifiers

Non-affective psychosis per electronic health record (EHR) review and/or baseline clinical assessment, or symptom severity or psychosocial functioning impairments that preclude participation

Contraindications for either sleep deprivation or bright light therapy (e.g., bipolar disorder; seizure disorder; photosensitizing medication)

Intellectual disability precluding comprehension of study procedures

Evidence of untreated obstructive sleep apnea and/or restless legs syndrome

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Sleep Feedback + Psychoeducation
  • Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention + Bright Light (TSC+)
  • Triple Chronotherapy (TCT+)

Treatment groups

90 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

University of Pittsburgh

Lead sponsor

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Collaborator