Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 14 to 18

Exploring the link between sleep and emotions in teens with PTSD

Official title: Sleep and Emotion Processing in Adolescent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Run by University of Wisconsin, Madison · NCT06341413 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if improving sleep quality can help teens with PTSD feel better emotionally and improve their mood during the day.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages14 Years to 18 Years
SexAll
Enrollment180 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Madison, Wisconsin)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 16, 2024
Main results expectedOctober 1, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2028
Registry record updatedJuly 15, 2026
Trial IDNCT06341413 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 15-18 who have experienced at least one traumatic event and are fluent in English.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are not within the specified age range or do not have a history of trauma 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 clinical trial investigates how sleep quality affects emotion processing and daily mood in adolescents suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants will undergo a series of assessments, including clinical evaluations, cognitive testing, and MRI scans, followed by two overnight sleep studies using a wearable EEG device. The study aims to enhance slow-wave sleep through advanced sleep technology and assess its impact on emotional well-being the following day. A total of 165 youth will be involved, divided into three groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the sleep enhancement intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved emotional regulation and overall mental health in adolescents with PTSD.

How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of enhancing sleep quality in PTSD youth is novel, related studies have shown promising results in the impact of sleep on emotional processing.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

All participants must meet all of the following criteria:

* Aged 14-18 years old, inclusive
* Must agree to inform the investigators within 48 hours of any emergent medical conditions and procedures
* Able to lie still on their back for up to 1 hour
* Must not be pregnant
* Must agree not to participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the duration of the study
* Must be willing to comply with all study procedures
* Agree to have study visits video and/or audio recorded, including consent visit, clinical assessments (for staff training) and in-laboratory sleep visits (recording deleted within one month of study visit).
* A primary parent or guardian is willing participate in the study and to provide informed consent
* Are fluent in or predominantly speaking and reading in English

In addition, PTSD and TEC youth must satisfy the following criteria:

\- Must have a history of at least one traumatic event of any type, as defined by the DSM-V. This may include exposure to physical or sexual abuse, witnessing violence against loved ones or friends, traumatic accidents, natural disasters, death of a close family member etc.

Additional criteria for PTSD youth:

\- At baseline, meet threshold for DSM-5 criteria for current severe PTSD, as determined by the semi-structured clinical interview (KSADS).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Caregiver or adolescent is unwilling or unable to give adequate informed consent.
* Are likely, in the investigator's opinion and via observation during the screening and clinical assessment period, to be re-exposed to their index trauma or other significant trauma, lack social support, or lack a stable living situation during study participation.
* Any finding(s), based on the screening process, that the PI feels would make the study unsuitable for the participant.
* Participation in the last 30 days in a clinical study involving an investigational drug
* MRI contraindication
* Claustrophobia or inability lie still in the scanner after practice MRI sessions.
* Any participant presenting current serious suicide risk, as determined through the KSADS, responses to C-SSRS, and/or clinical judgment of the investigator, will be excluded; however, history of suicide attempts is not an exclusion. Would present a serious risk to others as established through clinical interview and contact with treating physician.
* Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder
* Intellectual Disability (IQ less than 70, per self-report)
* Currently impaired by any medical condition that would prevent study participation
* Traumatic brain injury with ongoing symptoms, including headache, visual disturbances, and/or impairments in concentration.
* Neurological disorder(s) such as seizures, epilepsy, or brain tumors (Tourette's disorder, as diagnosed in the KSADS, is not exclusionary for TEC/PTSD youth)
* Current use of medications or other drugs (i.e., alcohol) in a manner that may interfere with sleep.
* Possible pregnancy

Exclusions for Typically developing youth:

* No history of or current psychopathology, as defined in the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS), with exception of past specific phobia and past, resolved episodes of depressive or anxiety disorders. Provided that:

  * The episode is not current (i.e. does not meet current criteria as assessed by the KSADS),
  * The participant is not currently receiving psychiatric treatment (medication or psychotherapy) for mood/anxiety, and
  * There is no current serious suicide risk (per KSADS/C-SSRS).
* Current diagnosis of a sleep disorder (self-report).
* Any history of any traumatic experience as defined by the DSM-V, including IPV exposure, neglect, or emotional abuse etc.

PTSD Youth:

\- Current diagnosis of or history of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder diagnosed by the KSADS interview. No other co-morbid disorders are exclusionary.

TEC Youth:

\- A current diagnosis of PTSD or a current diagnosis of or history of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder diagnosed by the KSADS interview.

Where it's running

  • University of Wisconsin
    Madison, Wisconsin, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Stephanie Jones, MD, PhD — University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Study coordinator: Sara Heyn, JD, PhD
  • Email: sheyn@wisc.edu
  • Phone: 303-296-2116

Similar studies

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

  • Anger, Social Thinking, and PTSD in French Veterans

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  • TSND-201 treatment for PTSD in adults

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  • Long-term outcomes after Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in veterans with TBI, PCS, or PTSD

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    Recruiting Phase 2 Summit Hyperbarics and Wellness · Boise, Idaho · NCT07732374

  • SEE FAR CBT for Adults With PTSD

    This 12-week, one-on-one SEE FAR CBT program tests a trauma-focused therapy to see if PTSD symptoms improve in adults 18 and older.

    Recruiting Community Stress Prevention Center · Kiryat Shmona · NCT07720674

  • Brief SEE FAR CBT: a short, focused therapy for adults with PTSD

    A 6-session Brief SEE FAR CBT treatment is tested against usual dynamic psychotherapy for adults with PTSD to see if it reduces symptoms.

    Recruiting Community Stress Prevention Center · Sha'ar Hanegev · NCT07710573

  • MDMA Therapy for PTSD in Veterans

    This phase 2 study tests a fixed 120 mg dose of MDMA, followed by a 60 mg supplemental dose, plus therapy, to see if it helps adults who are veterans with PTSD.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Sunstone Medical · Rockville, Maryland · NCT07569159

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.