Improving sleep, nightmares, and daytime functioning in veterans with PTSD
Official title: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of a Modified Sleep and Circadian Intervention for Veterans with PTSD: Advancing Psychosocial Rehabilitation Through Sleep Health
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-11206906 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a tailored, module-based sleep program to reduce insomnia, nightmares, and sleep-related problems for veterans with PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004796-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11206906 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans diagnosed with PTSD who are experiencing insomnia, frequent nightmares, or suspected obstructive sleep apnea would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD, those whose sleep problems are driven solely by unrelated medical conditions, or veterans who cannot attend VA visits may not receive benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be invited to take part at the VA San Francisco where veterans with PTSD are randomly assigned to receive a modified TranS-C program or usual care. The TranS-C for PTSD uses patient-centered modules that target nightmares, insomnia, and comorbid sleep apnea with strategies like sleep scheduling, nightmare-focused techniques, and apnea-focused guidance. Participants will complete sleep questionnaires, may wear sleep monitors or undergo sleep testing if needed, and report on daytime functioning and quality of life. The team will follow participants over time to see whether sleep and daytime symptoms improve with the tailored program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve sleep quality, reduce nightmares, and help veterans function better during the day.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies of the TranS-C approach have improved sleep and daytime functioning, though this PTSD-specific adaptation is a newer application.
Where this research is happening
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Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richards, Anne — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Richards, Anne
Related research
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Helping Veterans with PTSD through family support and coaching.
This study is testing a new phone coaching service to help Veterans with PTSD get more involved in their mental health care, while also supporting their families, so they can work together to encourage the Veterans to start and stick with treatment.
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Improving sleep health for veterans with PTSD
This study is looking to help military veterans with PTSD who have trouble sleeping, like insomnia or nightmares, by using a special program called TranS-C that’s designed just for them, so they can get better sleep and feel more energized during the day.
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.