NIH-funded research R01 grant

Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Treatment to Help Depression in Older Adults at Risk of Suicide

Official title: Multi-site, double-blind, randomized-controlled, efficacy trial of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction for depression symptoms in older adults with high suicide risk

Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11381942 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A new behavioral program for older adults with depression and high suicide risk aims to improve sleep and mood and reduce suicidal thoughts after treatment.

More Depression research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2024
Project endMay 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$2,607,470
NIH project number5R01MH137185-03
Project IDNIH-11381942 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are adults 21+ with moderate-to-severe depression and active suicidal ideation or a history of suicide attempt who can engage in behavioral therapy.

Less likely to help

Individuals without significant sleep disruption or those unable to participate in behavioral therapy may experience little or no benefit.

What this research studies

This project tests a behavioral approach called TranS-C to stabilize sleep and daily rhythms in adults 21 and older with moderate-to-severe depression and active suicide risk. The study builds on pilot findings and compares TranS-C to standard care to see if better sleep patterns lead to more durable improvement in depression. It includes adults in hospital-like or clinical settings and tracks depression severity, suicidal thoughts, and any suicidal behaviors for six months after treatment. The trial uses rigorous, double-blind methods and multi-site participation to ensure reliable results.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, TranS-C could become a proven tool to help older adults feel less depressed and safer by improving sleep and circadian health.

How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilot data suggested that improving sleep and circadian patterns may enhance depression treatment outcomes, supporting further testing.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Smagula, Stephen F — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
  • Study coordinator: Smagula, Stephen F

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.