Sleep therapy tailored for adults in opioid treatment
Official title: Development and testing of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia adapted for patients in opioid use disorder treatment
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11325031 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tailored cognitive-behavioral sleep program aims to help adults with opioid use disorder and insomnia sleep better and stay in medication treatment.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $271,688 |
| NIH project number | 5R34DA058494-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325031 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) receiving medication treatment for opioid use disorder who have persistent insomnia symptoms and are willing to attend behavioral therapy sessions are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without insomnia, those not in medication-based OUD treatment, or those unable or unwilling to take part in therapy sessions are unlikely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would be offered a version of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (called CBT-IO) that is adapted to the needs of people receiving medications for opioid use disorder. The research team will use patient feedback and qualitative data to shape the sessions and materials. They will pilot the adapted program in clinics treating OUD, measure changes in sleep and engagement in medication treatment, and refine the approach based on results. The therapy is designed to fit into existing OUD care so it can support recovery and reduce overdose risk by improving sleep and treatment retention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with OUD sleep better and stay on life-saving medications longer, reducing overdose risk.
How similar studies have gone: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is an established, effective treatment in general, but it has been little tested in people with opioid use disorder, so this adapted approach is promising but not yet proven.
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.
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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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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.
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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.
-
Improving sleep treatment for people with opioid use disorder
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.
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.