Behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia types that affect sleep time and blood pressure
2/2 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trazodone Effects on Sleep and Blood Pressure in Insomnia Phenotypes Based on Objective Sleep Duration: A Sequential Cohort/Randomized Controlled Trial
This research will compare cognitive behavioral therapy and the medication trazodone to help adults with insomnia and high blood pressure sleep more and lower their blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168708 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would first join a four-site program where your sleep is measured objectively to see if you have short or normal sleep duration. Everyone receives cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and we track sleep time, blood pressure, and stress-hormone markers. People who do not improve after CBT-I may be randomized to take trazodone or a placebo to see if the medication helps them more. The study follows participants over time with clinic visits and objective sleep and blood-pressure measurements.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (age 18 and older) who have chronic insomnia and elevated blood pressure and can attend one of the study sites are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People without insomnia, without elevated blood pressure, or those unwilling to undergo sleep testing, therapy sessions, or medication would likely not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show which treatment better restores sleep and lowers blood pressure for specific insomnia types, enabling more personalized care.
How similar studies have performed: CBT-I is widely recommended and helps many people, but smaller pilot data suggest trazodone may better increase objective sleep time and lower blood pressure in the short-sleep insomnia phenotype where CBT-I may work less well.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wisniewski, Stephen R — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Wisniewski, Stephen R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.