NCT07399964

Effects of CBT-I on Impulsivity and Risk Taking in Youths With Insomnia

Effects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on Impulsivity and Risk Taking in Youths With Insomnia: A Randomised Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 124 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 24 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Insomnia is prevalent in adolescents. Impulsive behaviours and excessive risk-taking have been linked to the manifestation of psychopathology in youths. Previous research based on behavioural and neurophysiological measures has found that individuals with insomnia demonstrated impaired inhibitory control, which is associated with detrimental outcomes such as substance abuse and self-harm. Existing evidence has shown some positive effects of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on insomnia symptoms and daytime functioning in youths. Given the link between insomnia and impulsivity reported in previous research, and sleep as a highly modifiable factor, we are conducting this randomised controlled trial to examine the impact of CBT-I in improving impulsivity and risk-taking in youth with insomnia.

Detailed description

A randomised, assessor-blind, parallel-group controlled trial will be conducted on youths with insomnia. The study aims to test the effects of CBT-I on impulsivity in adolescents, as assessed through both self-report and objective measures when compared with the psychoeducation control. Eligible participants will be randomised to either group-based CBT-I or psychoeducation control condition. Randomisation will be carried out using an automated online system. Assessments will be conducted at pre-treatment (week 0) and post-treatment (week 7/one-week after the last group session), as well as post-treatment 6 months in order to examine the maintenance effects following the CBT-I intervention.

Conditions

• Insomnia
• Impulsivity
• Risk-Taking

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia	CBT-I consists of 6 weekly group sessions (90-min, 5-8 adolescents in each group) delivered in the afternoon/evening after school within a 10-week window. The intervention is structured and based on the well-established CBT elements for treating insomnia. The treatment components aim to address the behavioural, cognitive, and physiological factors perpetuating insomnia whilst considering the sleep and circadian features in adolescents and developmental context with the following key elements: psychoeducation about sleep, circadian rhythm and sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation training, structured worry time, cognitive restructuring (targeting sleep-related dysfunctional cognitions), and relapse prevention.
OTHER	Health-related Psychoeducation	The active control group will receive group-based health-related psychoeducation, a format that has been adopted in the previous research, in order to provide the credibility of the intervention to the participants, and to control for the potential effects of attention and nonspecific components, e.g., receiving health-related information, expectations of benefit. It will also consist of 6 weekly sessions which contain education on general well-being, diet, and exercise/activity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-06-19
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2026-02-10
• Last updated: 2026-02-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Hong Kong