None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This RCT will evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of a multi-day online ABM program targeting insomnia symptoms by comparing an active ABM intervention with a control ABM task. It will also examine whether improvements in insomnia lead to reduction in comorbid anxiety/depression symptoms and appraise the longer-term therapeutic effects of ABM on insomnia and comorbid anxiety/depression.
Interventions
Attentional bias modification (ABM) intervention with 5 sessions completed over 5 nights before bed at home (1 x approx, 15 minute session/day).
Each ABM session consists of delivery of 384 trials using 48 word pairs comprising sleep-related threat words (e.g. Agitated, Exhausted) paired with length and frequency-matched non-threat words (e.g. Carriers, Developed),
Each trial of the task will begin with a fixation cross in the centre of the computer screen for 500ms. A word pair will then app
Attentional bias modification (ABM) intervention with 5 sessions completed over 5 nights before bed at home (1 x approx, 15 minute session/day). Each ABM session consists of delivery of 384 trials using 48 word pairs comprising sleep-related threat words (e.g. Agitated, Exhausted) paired with length and frequency-matched non-threat words (e.g. Carriers, Developed), Each trial of the task will begin with a fixation cross in the centre of the computer screen for 500ms. A word pair will then appear for 500ms. Immediately following this, a visual probe comprising of two small red dots oriented either horizontally (..) or vertically (:) will appear in the location on the screen of one of the words previously shown. On each trial, participants will be required to indicate which of the two probes was shown by pressing the corresponding buttons on the keyboard or screen. The probes will appear on the screen location previously occupied by the non-threat words 100% of the time. Adherence to the daily ABM sessions will be automatically tracked by the computer program. Standardised email reminders will be sent to a participant each day.
Sponsors
St Vincent's Hospital Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- Self-identified as suffering from insomnia and anxiety/depression, with worry as a contributing factor to their insomnia. - Meet criteria for insomnia on ISI and time frames outlined in DSM-5. - Meet threshold for Generalised Anxiety Disorder on GAD-7, or meet threshold for depression on PHQ-9, without thoughts of self-harm/suicidal intent. - Australian resident status. - At least 18 years of age. - Have reliable access to a computer and the internet. - Prepared to provide name, phone number, and address, and to provide the name and phone number of a local general practitioner. - Willing to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- Presence of severe depression and/or suicidal ideation. - Lifetime history of psychosis/bipolar disorder. - Current substance abuse/use of Benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medications. - Presence of untreated sleep disorder other than insomnia. - Initiation/change of medication, or initiation of psychological therapy in the last 2 months. - Engagement in shift work/presence of commitments that interfere with regular night-time sleep patterns. - Waking time outside of 4-10am and bed time outside of 8pm-2pm more than twice a week, not primarily due to insomnia. - Not fluent in written and spoken English.
Outcome results
None listed