Understanding and redefining insomnia through new assessment methods
Official title: Redefining Insomnia: A Comparison of Categorical and Dimensional Approaches
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11132839 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how we understand and measure insomnia, which affects many people, by comparing personal experiences with scientific tools, and it invites patients to help by sharing their sleep habits and using a device that tracks their sleep patterns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $643,433 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173043-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132839 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults over 21 years old who experience difficulties with sleep and related distress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with sleep disorders unrelated to insomnia or those who do not experience significant sleep difficulties may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how insomnia is defined and assessed, focusing on both subjective experiences and objective measurements. It aims to explore the complexity of insomnia, which may involve various underlying factors such as hyperarousal and circadian misalignment. By comparing different approaches to diagnosing insomnia, the study seeks to improve the understanding of this common sleep disorder and its impact on daily life. Patients may be asked to participate by providing sleep diaries and undergoing assessments using actigraphy, which tracks sleep patterns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments for insomnia, improving patients' quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that re-evaluating diagnostic criteria can lead to better understanding and treatment of complex disorders, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gehrman, Philip Richard — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Gehrman, Philip Richard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia phenotypes with high blood pressure
A clinical study tests how CBT-I and the sleep drug trazodone work for adults with insomnia and high blood pressure, focusing on a specific sleep duration pattern.
-
DESCANSO: A friendly CBT plan to ease depression, sleep problems, and fatigue in Latino cancer patients
A Spanish-speaking CBT program called DESCANSO is being tested to help Latino cancer patients feel less tired, sleep better, and happier.
-
Pimavanserin for Sleep Problems in Veterans with PTSD
This grant supports Dr. Melissa Jones to study a new medicine, pimavanserin, to help veterans with PTSD sleep better.
-
Improving WTC responder mental health with personalized sleep treatment for COMISA
Aimed at helping World Trade Center responders who have both insomnia and sleep apnea feel better by using a tailored combination of sleep therapies.
-
A new sleep-help approach for Veterans with PTSD
A new ACT-based insomnia treatment tailored for Veterans with PTSD aims to improve sleep and quality of life.
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia to Help Veterans with Psychosis
A veteran-focused CBT-I program tailored for those with psychosis aims to improve sleep and daily functioning.
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.