Flashed light therapy for teens with ADHD and sleep issues
Flashed Light Therapy for Adolescents with ADHD and Delayed Sleep Timing
NA · University of California, Los Angeles · NCT06036420
This study is testing if a new light therapy combined with online therapy can help teenagers with ADHD and sleep problems get better sleep.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 6 (estimated) |
| Ages | 14 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, Los Angeles (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT06036420 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research project aims to evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of flashed light therapy combined with cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents aged 14 to 17 who have ADHD and delayed sleep-wake schedules. Participants will undergo an initial screening to assess eligibility, followed by a sleep monitoring phase. After two weeks of daily flashed light therapy, they will receive four weeks of videoconference-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy sessions while continuing the light therapy. The study will measure treatment perceptions, adherence, and changes in sleep patterns.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 14 to 17 with a diagnosis of ADHD and delayed sleep-wake schedules.
Not a fit: Patients with severe anxiety or depression, bipolar disorder, or other significant psychiatric conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve sleep quality and ADHD symptoms in adolescents.
How similar studies have performed: While the combination of light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy is innovative, similar approaches have shown promise in improving sleep and ADHD symptoms in other populations.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age of 14 to 17 years 2. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (any type) 3. Self-reported average bedtime of 11:00 pm or later, with difficulty shifting bedtime earlier and difficulty waking up early enough in the morning 4. Evening chronotype (i.e., score ≤ 27 on the Morningness-Eveningness scale for Children) 5. Clinically significant ADHD severity (ADHD-Rating Scale-5 score ≥ 24) 6. Moderate global functioning impairment or worse (Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale score ≥ 4) 7. Attending school (i.e., standard school year or summer school) during study enrollment 8. Fluency in English Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current or lifetime diagnosis of bipolar Disorder, psychosis, autism spectrum disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder 2. Alcohol or substance dependence or suicidality within the past 6 months 3. Current depression or anxiety in the severe range or higher 4. Sleep disorder present besides delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (Clinical Sleep History Interview) 5. Sleep solely in the prone position (i.e., on stomach) 6. Full scale IQ ≤ 80 (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence-II) 7. Use of any over-the-counter (e.g., melatonin, Benadryl) or prescribed sleep medication in the past month or planned use during the study 8. Changes to any psychiatric medication within one month of study enrollment or planned changes during the study 9. Use of photosensitizing medication within one month of study enrollment or planned during the study 10. Participation in behavior therapy for sleep and/or ADHD within 3 months of study enrollment or planned participation during the course of the study 11. Use of light therapy within 6 months of study enrollment or planned use during the study 12. Travel across \> 2 time zones within one month of study enrollment or planned travel outside of the time zone of participation during the study 13. Structural barriers to sleep (e.g., night shift work, extracurriculars scheduled until late in the evening, early rising for sports practice) 14. Medical or neurological condition (e.g., seizure disorder, chronic migraines) that would interfere in the individual's ability to participate
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Emily J Ricketts, Ph.D. — University of California, Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Maya Tooker, B.S.
- Email: mtooker@mednet.ucla.edu
- Phone: (310) 825-2701
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: ADHD, light flashes, CBT, sleep