Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Comparing two treatments for insomnia in veterans with PTSD

Official title: A Novel Acceptance-based Treatment for Insomnia in Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT05194930 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is trying out a new treatment for insomnia that combines different therapy techniques to see if it helps veterans with PTSD sleep better and feel less anxious compared to standard therapy.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment400 (estimated)
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development
Federal
Locations2 sites (Sepulveda, California and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 1, 2022
Main results expectedJune 30, 2027
Study endsJune 30, 2027
Registry record updatedJuly 27, 2026
Trial IDNCT05194930 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are community-dwelling veterans aged 18 and older who have received care from the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and live within a 50-mile radius.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are currently pregnant, have severe untreated sleep disorders, or unstable medical or psychiatric conditions may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized trial evaluates the effectiveness of a novel treatment called Acceptance of the Behavioral Changes to Treat Insomnia (ABC-I) against the standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) in veterans suffering from both insomnia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). ABC-I integrates behavioral components from CBT-I with elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to enhance treatment adherence. The study aims to assess the impact of ABC-I on reducing PTSD symptoms and improving sleep quality compared to CBT-I. Veterans receiving care at Sepulveda and West Los Angeles facilities will be recruited for participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a more effective treatment option for veterans struggling with insomnia and PTSD.

How similar studies have gone: While there is evidence supporting CBT-I for insomnia in individuals with psychiatric comorbidities, this specific comparison of ABC-I to CBT-I is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* community-dwelling Veterans aged 18 years and older,
* received care from VAGLAHS in the prior year,
* live within a 50-mile radius of the research offices at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center,
* have symptoms of PTSD,
* have symptoms of insomnia.

Exclusion Criteria:

* current pregnancy or has a child less than 6 months of age (men and women),
* active substance users or in recovery with less than 90 days of sobriety,
* too ill to engage in the study procedures,
* unable to self-consent to participate,
* unstable housing (since we may not be able to retrieve costly and difficult to replace monitoring equipment),
* severe, untreated sleep disordered breathing (AHI\>15 with excessive daytime sleepiness, or AHI\>30),
* restless legs syndrome that accounts for the sleep disturbances reported,
* a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that accounts for the sleep disturbances reported (including shift work sleep disorder),
* unstable medical or psychiatric disorders (which is a contraindication for behavioral treatment of insomnia);
* remission of insomnia symptoms prior to randomization;
* current participation in prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD.

Where it's running

  • VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA
    Sepulveda, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL
    Miami, Florida, United States
    Active not recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Jennifer L Martin, PhD — Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL
  • Study coordinator: Jennifer L Martin, PhD
  • Email: jennifer.martin@va.gov
  • Phone: (305) 575-7000

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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    Recruiting Taipei Medical University · Taipei · NCT07842250

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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.