Understanding how sleep and body rhythms affect cravings and emotion control for people on opioid treatment
Official title: Investigating mechanisms underpinning outcomes in people on opioid agonist treatment for OUD: Disentangling sleep and circadian rhythm influences on craving and emotion regulation
Funded at Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital · NIH-11385557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how sleep patterns and body clocks influence cravings and emotion regulation in people taking medication for opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,057,235 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059469-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who are receiving opioid agonist treatment and experiencing sleep and circadian-related challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not on MOUD or without sleep/circadian disturbance may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
People on opioid agonist treatment often have sleep problems that may worsen cravings and mood. The research will characterize sleep quality, circadian rhythms, and brain function to see how these relate to treatment outcomes. By pairing sleep-focused observations with cognitive and behavioral measures, the study aims to identify modifiable factors and potential adjunctive treatments. Results could lead to personalized strategies to improve MOUD effectiveness and support recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to sleep- and rhythm-based interventions that improve MOUD outcomes and reduce relapse risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows sleep issues affect addiction outcomes, but this study seeks to disentangle sleep and circadian influences in MOUD specifically.
Where this research is happening
-
Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carskadon, Mary a — Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital
- Study coordinator: Carskadon, Mary a
Related research
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How sleep and your body clock affect cravings and emotions during opioid medication treatment
This work looks at how sleep patterns and circadian rhythms relate to cravings and emotion control in people taking medications for opioid use disorder.
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Understanding how sleep affects cravings and emotions in people treated for opioid use disorder.
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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.