NCT07167706

Sleep Difficulties After Loss: Exploring the Beneficial Effect of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in a Sample of Bereaved Individuals

Sleep Difficulties After Loss (SLEEPLOSS): Exploring the Beneficial Effect of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in a Sample of Bereaved Individuals

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 58 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Aarhus · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of the study is to investigate whether a brief behavioral therapy for insomnia (BBTI) improves sleep in bereaved patients screened for insomnia compared to an active control group (sleep hygiene education). The study will also explore if BBTI improves symptoms of complicated grief. The investigators will recruit approximately 58 bereaved participants with insomnia.

Detailed description

The study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of a brief behavioral therapy for insomnia (BBTI) on insomnia with an active control group (sleep hygiene). Participants will be 58 bereaved individuals who experience insomnia. After baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to either BBTI or sleep hygiene (active control). Both groups will undergo post-treatment assessments as well as 3- and 6-months follow-up assessments. The primary outcomes will be insomnia assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and improvements in sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep parameters using the consensus sleep diary. The secondary outcome will be complicated grief reactions (CGR) using the Aarhus Prolonged Grief Disorder scale (A-PGDs, prolonged grief). the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10, depression), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire (GAD-7; anxiety), and the short-form PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; PTSD). The study has the following aims and hypotheses: PRIMARY AIM: To investigate whether BBTI improves sleep in bereaved patients screened for insomnia when compared to an active control group. PRIMARY HYPOTHESIS: Compared with the active control group, participants receiving BBTI will show statistically significant reductions in insomnia using the ISI, as well as improvements in sleep quality using the PSQI and sleep parameters using the consensus sleep diary. SECONDARY AIM: To explore whether BBTI improves CGR in bereaved patients screened for insomnia when compared to an active control group. SECONDARY HYPOTHESIS: Compared with the active control group, participants receiving BBTI will show statistically significant reductions in CGR using the A-PGDs, the CESD-10, the GAD-7, and the PCL-5.

Conditions

• Insomnia
• Insomnia Chronic
• Complicated Grief

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia	BBTI is a multi-component intervention consisting of techniques from sleep restriction and stimulus control therapy. It targets behavioral elements of insomnia using four techniques: 1) reduce time in bed, 2) get up at the same time every day, 3) do not go to bed unless sleepy, and 4) do not stay in bed unless asleep.
BEHAVIORAL	Sleep Hygiene Therapy	SHE consists of education on lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, substance use) and enviromental variables (noise, light, temperature) affecting sleep quality.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-30
• Primary completion: 2027-05-31
• Completion: 2027-05-31
• First posted: 2025-09-11
• Last updated: 2025-11-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark