A sleep-health program to help teens recover faster from concussion
Official title: Multidimensional Sleep Health Intervention to Optimize Concussion Recovery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Run by University of Colorado, Denver · NCT07082218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether a personalized, multidimensional sleep-health program helps adolescents (ages 10–19) recover faster from concussion and sleep better than standard guidance.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 10 Years to 19 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 54 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Colorado, Denver Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aurora, Colorado) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 15, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | June 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07082218 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Symptomatic adolescents aged 10–19 diagnosed with a concussion (PCSI score ≥9) and able to enroll within the first month after injury are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
People with a prior history of treatment for sleep disorders, those outside the 10–19 age range, or individuals with more severe brain injuries are unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective randomized trial that delivers a targeted, prescriptive sleep-health intervention to adolescents within the first month after a concussion and compares outcomes to standard post-concussion sleep guidance. The intervention was developed from prior pilot work and addresses multiple sleep domains with personalized recommendations. Outcomes include time to symptom resolution, self-reported sleep quality and duration, objective sleep measured by actigraphy, and secondary measures of mental health and academic engagement. The goal is to determine whether improving sleep leads to faster and more complete concussion recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could shorten recovery time and improve sleep, mood, and school functioning for adolescents after concussion.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is relatively novel: small pilot data from the study team and a few limited studies suggest promise, but large randomized evidence is still lacking.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants will be symptomatic at the time of enrollment (Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory \[PCSI\] score ≥9) * Diagnosed with a concussion by a healthcare provider using the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine diagnostic criteria * 10-19 years of age (aligned with World Health Organization definition of 'adolescent') Exclusion Criteria: * History of treatment for pre-concussion sleep-related disorders
Where it's running
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University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David R Howell, PhD — University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz
- Study coordinator: David R Howell, PhD
- Email: David.Howell@CUAnschutz.edu
- Phone: 7207771502
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.