Improving sleep treatment for people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Health equity informed delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia adapted for individuals with opioid use disorder
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11084542 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a special type of therapy to help adults with opioid use disorder who also have trouble sleeping, aiming to make sure the treatment works well for everyone and supports their recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,063 |
| NIH project number | 5R34DA058494-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084542 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are currently receiving treatment for opioid use disorder and experiencing insomnia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have opioid use disorder or those who do not experience insomnia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and testing a tailored approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) specifically for adults struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD). It aims to address the high prevalence of insomnia among this population, which can hinder their recovery and increase overdose risks. By integrating health equity principles, the study seeks to ensure that the treatment is accessible and effective for diverse groups affected by OUD. Participants will receive a refined CBT-I intervention designed to meet their unique biopsychosocial needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve sleep quality and recovery outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that tailored behavioral therapies can enhance treatment effectiveness for individuals with opioid use disorder, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martin, Caitlin Eileen — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Martin, Caitlin Eileen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How sleep and the brain's orexin system affect recovery while on buprenorphine
This project tests whether targeting the brain's orexin system can improve sleep and lower relapse risk for people taking buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
-
Understanding how the brain’s orexin system links sleep, mood, and opioid use disorder
Scientists will study how the orexin system in the brain relates to insomnia and relapse risk in adults with opioid use disorder who are on buprenorphine treatment.
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Sleep therapy tailored for adults in opioid treatment
A tailored cognitive-behavioral sleep program aims to help adults with opioid use disorder and insomnia sleep better and stay in medication treatment.
-
Suvorexant to improve sleep in people receiving treatment for opioid use disorder
People on medications for opioid use disorder who have insomnia will be given suvorexant or a placebo to see if it helps their sleep, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.
-
Connecting Sleep and Opioid Use Disorder through Brain Chemistry
This project looks at how a brain system called orexin connects sleep problems and opioid use disorder, hoping to find new ways to help people.
-
Testing a medication to improve sleep in people with opioid use disorder
This study is looking at whether the sleep medication suvorexant can help people with opioid use disorder who are in long-term treatment by improving their sleep and possibly easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
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.