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Web-based Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Dementia Caregivers

Web-based Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Dementia Caregivers

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04632628
Acronym
NiteCAPP
Enrollment
60
Registered
2020-11-17
Start date
2023-11-14
Completion date
2027-09-30
Last updated
2026-06-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dementia, Insomnia Chronic

Keywords

Dementia Caregiver, Sleep, Behavioral Interventions, Online Behavioral Intervention, Insomnia, Dementia

Brief summary

Over the next 30 years, more than 10 million persons living with dementia in the United States will receive care at home from an unpaid and untrained family caregiver. At home care is preferred by caregivers and persons with dementia alike, but increases the caregiver's risk of insomnia and related negative health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, cognitive disturbances and poor quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a highly effective and established evidence based treatment for adults of all ages. Although relatively understudied in dementia caregivers, the research by our group and others suggests CBT-I is also efficacious in caregivers. Our team developed a brief (4 session) CBT-I protocol specifically adapted for dementia caregivers (CBT-I) and has shown in person and remote (i.e. telehealth) delivery of this protocol significantly reduces insomnia symptoms and improves mood (moderate to large effects). Given demands on caregivers' time and limited availability of trained CBT-I providers, a web-based version of CBT-I (WebCBT-I; the online treatment will be called NiteCAPP) is needed to increase the accessibility of this efficacious treatment. WebCBT-I will allow for flexible at home scheduling, and the skills needed to monitor caregiver treatment progress can be quickly and efficiently taught to healthcare providers. The overarching goal of this project is to develop and test WebCBT-I in caregivers of persons with dementia. Objectives 1. To examine the clinical and health characteristics, including sleep, pain, fatigue, cognitive abilities, and cardiovascular health in dementia caregivers with insomnia. 2. To examine changes in the primary clinical outcomes, including complaints of poor sleep, and fatigue. 3. To examine changes in the secondary clinical outcomes, including mood, daytime functioning, cognitive functioning, and cardiovascular health. 4. To examine the mechanistic variables, including arousal (heart rate variability, HRV).

Interventions

BEHAVIORALWeb-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Participants will complete 4 web-based CBT- I sessions. Lesson 1: Sleep Hygiene and Stimulus Control Lesson 2: Sleep Restriction and Relaxation Strategies Lesson 3: Identifying and Restructuring Dysfunction Thoughts Lesson 4: Practical Recommendations, Review, and Maintenance of Change

Sponsors

University of South Florida
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

CAREGIVER Inclusion Criteria: * 18+ yrs * Dementia caregiver living with person with dementia * willing to be randomized, 4. read/understand English * insomnia diagnosis * no prescribed or over-the-counter sleep meds or stabilized 6+ weeks. Insomnia: * complaints for 6+ mos * adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep * 1+ of the following: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early * daytime dysfunction (mood, cognitive, social, occupational) due to insomnia * Screening interview indicates Insomnia Severity Index score ≥11 or Insomnia Severity Index score 9-10 * baseline diaries indicate \>30 mins of sleep onset latency or wake after sleep onset on 3+ nts.

Exclusion criteria

* unable to consent * cognitive impairment \[Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) \<25 or Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) \<26\] * sleep disorder other than insomnia \[i.e., sleep apnea (apnea/hypopnea index, AHI \>15)\] * bipolar or seizure disorder * other major psychopathology except depression or anxiety (e.g., suicidal ideation/intent, psychosis) * severe untreated psychiatric comorbidity * psychotropic or other medications (e.g., beta-blockers) that alter sleep * non-pharmacological tx for sleep or mood outside current trial. PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA Inclusion Criteria: * 18+ yrs * Persons with dementia living with caregiver * Have an eligible caregiver * willing to be randomized

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Daily Electronic Sleep and Pain Diaries - Sleep Onset Latency6 weeksSubjective sleep onset latency (time to fall asleep)
Daily Electronic Sleep and Pain Diaries - Wake-time After Sleep Onset6 weeksSubjective time awake after sleep onset
Daily Electronic Sleep and Pain Diaries - Total Sleep Time6 weeksSubjective total sleep time
Daily Electronic Sleep and Pain Diaries - Sleep Efficiency6 weeksSubjective sleep efficiency
Daily Electronic Sleep and Pain Diaries - Pain Intensity & Unpleasantness6 weeksPain Intensity \& Unpleasantness
Daily Electronic Sleep and Pain Diaries - Medication Consumption6 weeksSleep and pain medication consumption
Objective Daily Sleep Actiwatch-2 - Sleep Onset Latency6 weeksObjective sleep onset latency (time to fall asleep)
Objective Daily Sleep Actiwatch-2 - Wake-time After Sleep Onset6 weeksObjective time awake after sleep onset
Objective Daily Sleep Actiwatch-2 - Total Sleep Time6 weeksObjective total sleep time
Objective Daily Sleep Actiwatch-2 - Sleep Efficiency6 weeksObjective sleep efficiency
Insomnia Severity Index6 weeksInsomnia severity measurement; min: 0 max:28; higher score means greater insomnia severity

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y1)6 weeksAssessment of anxiety symptoms - min: 0 max:60; higher score means higher anxiety
Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI- II)6 weeksDepressive symptom assessment - min: 0 max: 63; Higher score means higher severity of depression
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)6 weeksPerception of stress - min: 0; max:40 - higher scores indicate higher perceived stress
Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale6 weeksCaregiver stress measurement - min:10 max:50 - higher score indicates higher caregiver stress
Dysfunctional Attitudes/Beliefs about Sleep (DBAS)6 weeksevaluates sleep-related beliefs, expectations and attitudes regarding the causes, consequences, and potential treatments of sleep issues - higher scores indicates more dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes
Caregiver Functional Unit Scale6 weeksAssessment of the stability of the patient-caregiver dyad - higher score indicates lower stability
Online Cognitive Assessment - Stroop6 weeksDetermine level of cognitive functioning
Online Cognitive Assessment - Sternberg6 weeksDetermine level of cognitive functioning
Online Cognitive Assessment - Wisconsin Card Sorting Task6 weeksDetermine level of cognitive functioning
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire6 weeksSelf-reported failures in perception, memory, and motor function - min:0 max: 100 - higher score indicates greater cognitive failure
Dementia Patient's Caregiver Quality of Life Scale6 weeksAssessment of caregiver quality of life - min: 0 max:100 - higher score indicates good quality of life
Zarit Burden Scale6 weeksCaregiver burden measurement - min: 0 max: 48 - higher score indicated higher caregiver burden

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTChristina S McCrae
mccraec@health.missouri.edu573-882-0982
CONTACTRiley Stephens
rstephens@health.missouri.edu573-882-8881
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristina McCrae

University of Missouri-Columbia

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 16, 2026