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Comparative Efficacy of BRT and CBT-I for Insomnia

Comparative Efficacy of Bedtime Restriction Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia - a Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06767137
Acronym
SLEEPwindow
Enrollment
160
Registered
2025-01-09
Start date
2025-03-10
Completion date
2027-11-01
Last updated
2025-02-17

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

Conditions

Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic, Insomnia Disorder, Insomnia Disorders, Insomnia, Nonorganic, Insomnia, Primary, Insomnia Type; Sleep Disorder

Keywords

insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy, bedtime restriction, sleep restriction

Brief summary

This study evaluates two behavioral treatments for patients with insomnia disorder: Bedtime Restriction Therapy (BRT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Both therapies aim to improve the clinical symptomatology of insomnia by teaching participants techniques to better manage their sleep schedule and habits. BRT is a simpler and shorter therapy focused on aligning the time spent in bed with reported sleep time. CBT-I includes additional components such as relaxation techniques and cognitive exercises. The study will compare these treatments to see if BRT is as effective as CBT-I in improving the clinical symptomatology of insomnia.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a gold-standard, evidence-based treatment combining techniques to improve the clinical symptomatology of insomnia. Delivered in six 90-minute group sessions over six weeks, it includes: sleep education (i.e. understanding sleep mechanisms and influencing factors), bedtime restriction (i.e. aligning bedtimes with reported sleep duration), stimulus control (i.e. getting out of bed when unable to sleep), cognitive therapy (i.e. addressing dysfunctional sleep beliefs), relaxation techniques (i.e. using methods like progressive muscle relaxation).

BEHAVIORALBedtime restriction (BRT)

Bedtime Restriction Therapy (BRT): A behavioral intervention aimed at improving the clinical symptomatology of insomnia by aligning time spent in bed with reported sleep duration. Participants attend four 60-minute group therapy sessions over six weeks. The intervention includes: setting individualized sleep windows based on sleep diaries, regular adjustment of sleep schedules to enhance sleep pressure, group discussions to address implementation challenges and maintain motivation. BRT focuses exclusively on bed time restriction without additional cognitive or relaxation components, making it a simplified, resource-efficient approach to treating insomnia.

Sponsors

Christoph Nissen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Must meet DSM-5 criteria for insomnia disorder. * Adults aged 18 to 80 years * Capable of giving written informed consent. * Sufficient fluency in the study site's language (i.e., German or French) to understand all study-related information.

Exclusion criteria

* Unstable, progressive, or degenerative medical condition * Acute pain or poorly managed chronic pain * Suicidality * Uncontrolled psychiatric condition requiring treatment outside of study * Alcohol or drug abuse or dependency * Diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, autism, borderline personality disorder, or antisocial personality disorder * Clinical evidence of sleep disorders other than insomnia (e.g., sleep apnea, restless legs, periodic limb movements in sleep, parasomnia) * Evidence of intellectual disability * Regular intake of benzodiazepines (BZD) or benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZDRA) * Alteration of medication within 4 weeks prior to study treatment or planned alteration during the trial period (stable medication except BZD or BZDRA does not lead to exclusion) * Current other psychotherapy for insomnia * Known pregnancy or breastfeeding * Inability to comply with study procedure * Insufficient fluency in German or French to complete the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) summary scoresBaseline (T0) to 6 weeks (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3)

Countries

Switzerland

Contacts

Primary ContactElisabeth Hertenstein, PD, PhD
sleepwindow@unige.ch+41589440300
Backup ContactMarie Angelillo, MSc
sleepwindow@unige.ch+4158 944 03 00

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026