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A Non-Pharmacological Method for Enhancing Sleep in PTSD
NCT02370173 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Sleep disturbance is nearly ubiquitous among individuals suffering from PTSD and is a major problem among service members returning from combat deployments. The proposed study aims to test a novel, inexpensive, and easy to use approach to improving sleep among service members with PTSD. Primary outcome measures will include not only PTSD symptom improvement but also include neuroimaging of brain structure, function, connectivity, and neurochemistry changes. The proposal is firmly grounded in the emerging scientific literature regarding sleep, light exposure, brain function, anxiety, and resilience. Prior evidence suggests that bright light therapy is effective for improving mood and fatigue, and our pilot data further suggest that this treatment may be effective for improving daytime sleepiness and brain functioning in brain injured individuals. Thus, this intervention, in our own research and in the work of others, has been shown to affect critical sleep regulatory systems. Improving sleep may be a vital component of recovery in these service members. Our approach would directly address this issue. Our preliminary data have shown that this approach is extremely well tolerated and is effective for improving sleep, mood, cognitive performance, and brain function among individuals with brain injuries. Finally, the potential impact of this study is high because of the capability of transitioning the research to direct clinical application almost immediately. If the bright light treatment is demonstrated as effective, this approach would be readily available for nearly immediate large-scale implementation, as the devices have been widely used for years in other contexts, are already safety tested, and commercially available from several manufacturers for a very low cost. Thus, the impact of this research on treating PTSD would be high and immediate.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE PTSD wavelength-1 bright light
- DEVICE PTSD wavelength-2 bright light
Study Locations (1)
Arizona
- University of Arizona Psychiatry Department — Tucson
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 90 participants |
| Start Date | 2014-09 |
| Est. Completion | 2020-04 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT02370173
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT02370173 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 90 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Arizona, which has 379 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 2 conditions, with PTSD appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions — of which PTSD wavelength-1 bright light is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT02370173 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Arizona. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT02370173 about?
NCT02370173 is a clinical study titled "A Non-Pharmacological Method for Enhancing Sleep in PTSD". Sleep disturbance is nearly ubiquitous among individuals suffering from PTSD and is a major problem among service members returning from combat deployments. The proposed study aims to test a novel, inexpensive, and easy to use approach to improving sleep among service members with PTSD. Primary out...
What is the current status of trial NCT02370173?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 90 participants. The study started on 2014-09. Estimated completion is 2020-04.
What conditions does trial NCT02370173 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: PTSD, Sleep Problems. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT02370173?
The interventions under investigation include: PTSD wavelength-1 bright light (DEVICE), PTSD wavelength-2 bright light (DEVICE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT02370173?
This trial is sponsored by University of Arizona, which has 379 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT02370173 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Arizona. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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