Recovering sleep after a car crash
Official title: Recovering Sleep After Trauma
Run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · NCT07196332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot will test whether four remote sessions of brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) help people recently seen in the ER for a motor vehicle crash who are at high risk for PTSD and depression.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 30, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 2027 |
| Study ends | September 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07196332 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–65 who speak English, present to the UNC Chapel Hill ED within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision, are discharged home, meet the PTSD risk score threshold (≥16), own a compatible smartphone, and are willing to complete four remote sessions are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People who are hospitalized, severely injured, pregnant, incarcerated, beyond 72 hours after the crash, without a compatible smartphone or stable contact information, or with recent changes to psychiatric treatment are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.
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 small randomized pilot comparing telehealth-delivered BBTI to progressive muscle relaxation training in adults discharged from a single emergency department after a motor vehicle collision. Twenty participants who present within 72 hours of the crash and meet a high PTSD risk score will be randomized to four remote therapy sessions. The trial will measure feasibility, sleep outcomes, and preliminary effects on PTSD and depressive symptoms. Results will be used to design and larger-scale trial of secondary prevention after traumatic exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce the development or severity of PTSD and depression after motor vehicle crashes by improving sleep through an accessible telehealth approach.
How similar studies have gone: BBTI is an evidence-based treatment for insomnia and has reduced PTSD symptoms in other settings, but using BBTI as a telehealth secondary preventive intervention after motor vehicle collision is novel and untested in randomized trials.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Alert and oriented at time of screening 2. Written and spoken English 3. Age 18-65 4. Presents to the ED within 72 hours of MVC 5. Discharged home after ED evaluation 6. Has an email and mailing address 7. Owns a smartphone compatible with iOS or Android, has not experienced service interruption due to non-payment in the past year, and has maintained the same phone number for at least one year 8. Meets PTSD risk score criteria (score of ≥ 16 on the PTSD risk stratification tool) 9. Willing to participate in four remote therapy sessions Exclusion Criteria: 1. Age \<18 or \>65 2. Pregnant 3. Prisoner or in police custody 4. Present to ED \>72 hours after trauma 5. Admitted to the hospital after ED evaluation 6. Severely injured (e.g., severely broken bones) as a result of the MVC that, in the opinion of the investigator, may impact PTSD trajectories 7. Had a change in psychiatric medication or psychotherapy regimen within 1 month of enrollment 8. Currently receiving or planning to receive evidence-based treatments that directly target insomnia or PTSD (e.g., CBT-I, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Prolonged Exposure Therapy) 9. MVC was self-inflicted or occupation-related 10. Report or indicate that they are experiencing ongoing domestic violence 11. Has conditions that may be associated with comorbid insomnia, including a lifetime history of any psychiatric disorder with psychotic features, manic or hypomanic episodes. We will not exclude individuals based on any other mental health condition, including depression
Where it's running
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Samuel McLean, MD, MPH — University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Andrea A Massa, PhD
- Email: REST@unc.edu
- Phone: (919) 966-1644
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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.