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Added Value of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia in Persons With Knee Osteoarthritis

Towards PREcision MEdicine for Osteoarthritis: Added Value of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia.

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05387473
Acronym
PREMEO
Enrollment
128
Registered
2022-05-24
Start date
2022-05-25
Completion date
2026-12-01
Last updated
2026-08-20

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

Conditions

Insomnia, Osteoarthritis, Knee

Keywords

sleep initiation and maintenance problems, Arthritis, Pain, Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic, Dyssomnias, Sleep Wake Disorder

Brief summary

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the leading and fastest increasing cause of disability in older adults. It is a serious health issue related with a high health care utilisation. The first-line KOA management is nonsurgical care, with education and exercise therapy as key elements. Nevertheless, treatment effects of exercise therapy and behavioral pain management on improvements in pain, function and quality of life are small to moderate at best. This shows that there is an urgent need for better KOA care. The innovative solution may lie in thinking beyond joints, by targeting KOA subgroups through comorbidity-specific interventions, which fits well in the global move towards precision medicine. With a prevalence rate up to 50%, the presence of insomnia symptoms is a highly prevalent KOA comorbidity, contributing to symptom severity. If left untreated, it represents a barrier for effective conservative management. Since insomnia is nowadays hardly addressed in the often joint-targeted KOA care, the scientific objectives of the study are to assess 1) if cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) integrated in best-evidence usual care, consisting of education and exercise therapy, (CBTi-UC) is more effective than best-evidence usual care alone (UC), i.e. education and exercise therapy, at 6 months follow-up in improving clinical outcomes and 2) if CBTi-UC is more cost-effective than UC in KOA patients with comorbid insomnia.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) integrated in best-evidence usual care (CBTi-UC)

In the first two weeks, the participants will receive three sessions of education and advice based on current best-practice guidelines. In the following three weeks, the participants will be provided with once weekly exercise therapy and once weekly CBT-I. This is then spread out more over the next five weeks in which participants will receive once weekly sessions of either CBT-I or exercise therapy in alternating order. In the last four weeks of the intervention period, the participants will receive once weekly exercise therapy.

BEHAVIORALBest-evidence usual care (UC) plus information sessions

In the first two weeks, the participants will receive three sessions of education and advice based on current best-practice guidelines. In the following three weeks, the participants will be provided with once weekly exercise therapy and once weekly general information sessions (general education sessions in line with recommendations from best-practice guidelines and recent evidence). This is then spread out more over the next five weeks in which participants will receive once weekly sessions of either CBT-I or exercise therapy in alternating order. In the last four weeks of the intervention period, the participants will receive once weekly exercise therapy.

Sponsors

Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Lead SponsorOTHER
KU Leuven
CollaboratorOTHER
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

45 years old or older Being a fluent Dutch speaker Commits to study requirements Knee Osteoarthritis classified using the American college of Rheumatology criteria (Knee pain + 3/6 for diagnosis): * age\>50 * morning stiffness \<30 minutes * crepitus * bony tenderness * bony enlargement * no palpable warmth Insomnia diagnosis using the DSM-5 criteria: * No shiftwork * No severe untreated sleep disorders * For at least \>3 days / week for \>3 months: \>30 minutes sleep latency and/or \>30 minutes awake after sleep onset and/or early-morning awakening with inability to return to sleep AND associated daytime symptoms Knee pain nominated by the patient as 3 or higher on a visual analogue scale on most days of the last 3 months Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Treatment with supervised exercise therapy or joint infiltrations (e.g., corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid) or CBT-I in the preceding six months Change in any psychiatric or psychological treatment the last 3m or planned during the study period Concurrent intense psychological treatment (weekly basis) BMI \>30 Mini-Mental state examination score of 23 or lower Being on the waiting list for a knee replacement or having received knee replacement on symptomatic side Any contra-indication for exercise therapy Existing diagnose that has impact on sleep and patients are therefore unlikely to respond to CBT-I: any rheumatological condition (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Sjogren's syndrome); any neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease), dementia or receiving cholinesterase inhibitors; cancer diagnosis in the past year and receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the past year; Long-COVID or inpatient treatment for congestive heart failure within the prior six months. Having severe underlying sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea over AHI \>15, periodic leg movement disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep-wake cycle disturbance, rapid eye movement behavior disorder) Being pregnant or given birth in the preceding year Having an external/ physical factor that limits the opportunity to sleep (E.g. newborn)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Pain subscale Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score6 months after the end of therapyThe pain subscale of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) will be used as primary outcome to assess change in pain. The KOOS shows adequate content validity, internal consistency, reliability, content validity and responsiveness for age and condition relevant subscales. The pain scale consists of 9 items. A Likert scale is used and all items have five possible answer options scored from 0 (No Problems) to 4 (Extreme Problems). The total score ranges from 0 to 36.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in fatigue severity during interventionafter intervention week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14The Brugmann Fatigue Scale investigates self-reported fatigue severity. Score ranges from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating higher subjective levels of fatigue.
Change in pain catastrophizingBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Pain Catastrophizing Scale assesses negative thoughts and feelings when experiencing pain. Each item is scored from zero ("not at all") to four ("all the time"). Its total score ranges between 0 and 52, with a higher total score indicating higher levels of pain catastrophizing.
Change in pain catastrophizing during interventionafter intervention week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14The Pain Catastrophizing Scale assesses negative thoughts and feelings when experiencing pain. Each item is scored from zero ("not at all") to four ("all the time"). Its total score ranges between 0 and 52, with a higher total score indicating higher levels of pain catastrophizing.
Change in anxiety and DepressionBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapyand 12 months after the end of therapyThe Hospital Anxiety and Depression rating scale investigates self-reported affective symptoms. Score ranges from 0 to 21, with 0 indicating absence of depression or anxiety and 21 indicating the presence of depression or anxiety.
Change in anxiety and depression during interventionafter intervention week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14The Hospital Anxiety and Depression rating scale investigates self-reported affective symptoms. Score ranges from 0 to 21, with 0 indicating absence of depression or anxiety and 21 indicating the presence of depression or anxiety.
Change in Pressure Pain ThresholdsBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 months after the end of therapyPressure Pain Thresholds are measured with a digital pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments), both at symptomatic level (knee) and at remote sites (i.e. secondary hyperalgesia).
Change in objective sleep assessed with polysomnography (PSG)Baseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention)Participants will be monitored in the comfort of their own home by ambulatory PSG, one night at echt timepoint. PSG will provide sleep related outcomes (time in bed, total sleep time, sleep onset latency, wake duration after sleep onset, early morning awakening, sleep staging N1, N2, N3, REM in durations and % of total sleep time, sleep efficiency, respiratory parameters, myoclonic activity).
Change in biomarkers for inflammation by blood analysisBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 months after the end of therapyA relevant panel of biomarkers for chronic low-grade inflammation, modulation of inflammation and pain will be investigated (ultra-sensitivity ELISA for hsCRP, interleukin (IL)1β, IL1RA, IL6, IL8, IL10, MCP1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α, sTNFR1\&2, CXCL-10, CX3CL1). Blood sampling will be performed at the hospital after overnight fasting.
Change in physical performanceBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 months after the end of therapy30sec chair stand test to test leg strength and endurance.While monitoring the participant's performance to ensure proper form, the tester silently counts the completion of each correct stand. The score is the total number of stands within 30 seconds
Change in health care useBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 months after the end of therapyHealth care use (including co-interventions) will be recorded using the Medical Consumption Questionnaire, a generic instrument for measuring total, (in-)direct medical consumption. This questionnaire is easy-to-use and generates valid data.
Change in productivity costBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Productivity Cost Questionnaire will be used to obtain data regarding productivity losses. This questionnaire is easy-to-use and generate valid data.
Change in Pain subscale Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome ScoreBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, and 12 months after the end of therapyThe pain subscale of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) will be used as primary outcome to assess change in pain. The KOOS shows adequate content validity, internal consistency, reliability, content validity and responsiveness for age and condition relevant subscales. The pain scale consists of 9 items. A Likert scale is used and all items have five possible answer options scored from 0 (No Problems) to 4 (Extreme Problems). The total score ranges from 0 to 36.
Change in impact of pain on functioningBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) evaluates the impact of pain on functioning. The BPI measures how much pain interferes with seven daily activities, including general activity, walking, work, mood, enjoyment of life, relations with others, and sleep on an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (ranging from 0-10).
Change in self-reported central sensitization symptomsBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Central Sensitization Inventory investigates self-reported central sensitization symptoms. Score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more self-reported symptoms of central sensitization.
Change in sleep qualityBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index investigates self-reported perceived sleep quality. Score ranges from 0 to 21, 0 indicating no difficulty and 21 indicating severe sleep difficulties.
Change in Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about SleepBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep questionnaire investigates self-reported dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep. Score ranges from 0 to 10. Scores above 4 indicate unrealistic expectations for sleep or unrealistic thoughts about sleep.
Change in sleep propensityBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Epworth Sleepiness Scale investigates self-reported sleep propensity. Score ranges from 0 to 24, with 0 indicating normal daytime sleepiness and 24 indicating severe excessive daytime sleepiness.
Change in pain-related fear of movementBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia - 17 item version investigates pain-related fear of movement and (re)injury. Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert Scale, ranging from one ("strongly disagree") to four ("strongly agree"). The total score ranges between 17 and 68, with higher values reflecting greater fear of movement
Change in physical functionBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyChange in physical function is assessed with the function in daily living subscale of the Knee injury. and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score
Global assessmentAfter 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe patient global assessment is a recommended question in clinical trials of rehabilitation interventions for OA and it measures the improvement or deterioration of their condition since baseline, and therefore since the intervention has started. It will be assessed by patients on a 7-point Likert scale (very much improved, much improved, slightly improved, not changed, slightly worsened, much worsened, and vastly worsened).
Change in physical activity and sleep behaviourBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyUsing Fitbit Sense, physical activity measures such as the number of steps as well as sleep parameters will be retrieved with custom-made algorithms to quantify daily movement/sleep behaviours
Change in physical activity and sleep behaviour during interventionafter intervention week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14Using Fitbit Sense, physical activity measures such as the number of steps as well as sleep parameters will be retrieved with custom-made algorithms to quantify daily movement/sleep behaviours
Change in pain intensityBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Numeric Rating Scale for pain assesses the intensity of pain. It is an 11-point scale that requires the patient to select a number ranging from zero ("no pain") to ten ("worst possible pain"). The average and worst pain intensity in last week is questioned.
Change in pain intensity during interventionBafter intervention week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14The Numeric Rating Scale for pain assesses the intensity of pain. It is an 11-point scale that requires the patient to select a number ranging from zero ("no pain") to ten ("worst possible pain"). The average and worst pain intensity in last week is questioned.
Change in insomnia SeverityBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Insomnia Severity Index investigates self-reported insomnia severity. Score ranges from 0 to 28, with 0 indicating no clinically significant insomnia and 28 indicating severe clinical insomnia.
Change in insomnia Severity during interventionafter intervention week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14The Insomnia Severity Index investigates self-reported insomnia severity. Score ranges from 0 to 28, with 0 indicating no clinically significant insomnia and 28 indicating severe clinical insomnia.
Change in fatigue severityBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), 3 months after the end of therapy, 6 months after the end of therapy and 12 months after the end of therapyThe Brugmann Fatigue Scale investigates self-reported fatigue severity. Score ranges from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating higher subjective levels of fatigue.
Change in health-related quality of lifeBaseline, after 14 weeks (post-intervention), and 12 months after the end of therapyThe EQ-5D-5L will be used to assess health-related quality of life and to calculated utility health states for the cost-utility analysis. The EQ-5D-5L essentially consists of 2 pages: the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions, with each dimension consisting of 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and extreme problems. The patient is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking the box next to the most appropriate statement in each of the five dimensions. Higher scores indicate a higher quality of life

Countries

Belgium

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJo Nijs

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 21, 2026