NCT06541886 · Indiana University
Adapted CBT-I for Adolescents With Insomnia : The DREAM-IT Study
What this study is about
The goal of this study is to test an adapted treatment for teen insomnia in comparison to a waitlist condition. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an intervention that was developed for adults and is sometimes also used for teens. Teens, parents, and health care providers helped to review and adapt CBT-I to form Teen CBT-I.
View original scientific description
The goal of this study is to test an adapted treatment for teen insomnia in comparison to a waitlist condition. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an intervention that was developed for adults and is sometimes also used for teens. Teens, parents, and health care providers helped to review and adapt CBT-I to form Teen CBT-I. Teen CBT-I includes most of the same content as CBT-I, with some changes to match teen biology and lifestyles. The main questions this clinical trial aims to answer are: * Does Teen CBT-I improve insomnia symptoms in teens? o Researchers will compare Teen CBT-I to the waitlist control condition to see if insomnia symptoms significantly improve in the treatment group. * Do teens and their parents find Teen CBT-I to be acceptable? o Researchers will examine Teen CBT-I acceptability ratings. Teen CBT-I is hypothesized to improve insomnia symptoms in teens, and teens and parents are hypothesized to find Teen CBT-I to be acceptable. Teen participants will be randomized to one of the two conditions: Teen CBT-I treatment or waitlist control. They will also complete assessments at three timepoints: Baseline (before treatment); post-intervention (after treatment); and follow-up (2 months after treatment). For each assessment, teen participants will: * Fill out questionnaires about their sleep, mood, and other areas * Keep daily sleep logs for one week * Wear an actigraph, a wrist-watch like device that records activity levels to determine sleep-wake patterns, for one week. Parent participants will also be asked to complete questionnaires at each measurement point about their teen's sleep, mood, and other areas. The intervention conditions are: * Teen CBT-I includes 4-6 one-hour individual virtual sessions with a therapist. It includes standard CBT-I content with some small changes to match teen biology and lifestyles. The main parts of this treatment include healthy sleep habits, only using the bed for sleep, keeping a recommended sleep schedule, changing negative thoughts about sleep, and learning ways to relax the mind and body for sleep. * Waitlist-control, in which teens will not receive any treatment for 8 weeks. After the second assessment, they will receive free access to an app-based CBT-I treatment which they can complete on their own.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
CBT-I was developed as a treatment for adults with insomnia. There are more than 100 studies showing that CBT-I is effective in treating insomnia in adults, and several studies suggest it is also effective in treating insomnia in teens.
Primary outcome measures
Teen-reported insomnia severity
Time frame: Baseline, Post-treatment (approximately 8 weeks after baseline), and 2 month follow up
assessed via the PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) sleep disturbance scale, which has been established as reliable and valid with adolescents. Possible scores on this scale range from 10 - 50, where higher scores reflect more severe insomnia.
Teen-reported treatment acceptability
Time frame: Post-treatment (approximately 8 weeks after baseline)
based on the widely used Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, which assesses treatment feasibility, satisfaction, and perceived helpfulness. Possible scores on this scale range from 8-40, where higher scores reflect higher acceptability ratings.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Adolescents (13-18 years) who are in either middle school or high school and meet ICSD-3 diagnostic criteria for Chronic Insomnia Disorder, currently or in the past year, based on self-reported insomnia symptoms, using a screening checklist.
- Reside in a state where Dr. McQuillan (supervising provider) is licensed to practice psychology (with PsyPact) which are the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Sufficient English language proficiency for consent and study participation
- Reliable internet access to attend virtual visits with audio and video
- Parents or other caregivers of these adolescents (hereafter referred to as a parent) must live in the home with the identified adolescent at least 50% of the time and must report playing a parental role for that adolescent. The parent must also be able to attend the final 10 minutes of each treatment session, if the teen is randomized to a treatment condition.
Exclusion criteria
- Sleep aid use that is either inconsistent (e.g., used some but not all nights) and cannot be discontinued OR consistent and effective enough that the teen no longer has insomnia symptoms while using it. If a teen agrees to keep the dose and frequency of sleep aid use consistent throughout the treatment and still has insomnia symptoms at baseline, they are not ineligible.
- Prior participation in Aim 1 of DREAM IT study (e.g., participation in an Aim 1 focus group).
- Comorbid medical or psychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders, that are acute, unstable, or untreated. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar Disorder will be excluded.
- Comorbid delayed sleep wake phase disorder or other active/untreated sleep disorders, including RLS, OSA, and Nightmare disorder
- Active suicidal ideation with plan and intent
Where
- Indianapolis, Indiana
Collaborators
American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Nyxeos Consulting
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Jun 4, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations