Sleep and circadian interventions for college students at high risk of suicide

Is this trial a fit for you?

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

What this trial studies

This interventional study randomizes acutely suicidal college students in intensive outpatient treatment to one of three sleep-based interventions. Participants receive either Triple Chronotherapy plus a transdiagnostic sleep and circadian intervention, the transdiagnostic sleep and circadian intervention alone, or a Sleep Feedback with psychoeducation. The study follows participants for six months, with blinded clinicians assessing suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and depression at early, mid, and long-term time points. The goal is to determine whether adding sleep-focused treatment improves short- and longer-term suicide risk reduction beyond standard care.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Enrolled or planning to enroll in treatment at COSTAR Intensive Outpatient Program
* English language fluency and literacy sufficient to engage in study protocol
* Suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in past month
* Clinically significant sleep disturbance, operationalized as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global PSQI score \>= 7, and/or delayed bedtimes (\>midnight), and/or \>2 hours in sleep timing variability

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-affective psychosis per electronic health record (EHR) review and/or baseline clinical assessment, or symptom severity or psychosocial functioning impairments that preclude participation
* Contraindications for either sleep deprivation or bright light therapy (e.g., bipolar disorder; seizure disorder; photosensitizing medication)
* Intellectual disability precluding comprehension of study procedures
* Evidence of untreated obstructive sleep apnea and/or restless legs syndrome
* Life-threatening medical condition requiring immediate treatment (such as cancer; end stage disease)
* Pregnancy

Where it's running

• Western Psychiatric Hospital/University of Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Tina Goldstein, PhD — University of Pittsburgh
• Study coordinator: Dawn Rice, MS
• Email: ricedm@upmc.edu
• Phone: 412-297-1947

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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.