U-SLEEP: Experimental Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
U-SLEEP: Experimental Study
IRAS ID
149731
Contact name
Gabriel Davies
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 20 days
Research summary
Up to 80% of individuals with a diagnosis of psychosis report problems sleeping. Sleep problems in these people have been related to poorer mental health and reduced quality of life, as well as help seeking and suicidal thoughts. This indicates that sleep difficulties may increase feelings of distress for people with psychosis. There is a lot of research looking at sleep problems in people who have had schizophrenia for a long time. However, we know very little about how sleep problems affect people who have recently experienced psychosis for the first time.
Pilot work suggests that a talking therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can improve sleep and mental health in people who have a long-term diagnosis of psychosis. However there have been no studies like this with people who are in the earlier stages of the illness. The U-SLEEP study aims to investigate sleep problems in the early course of schizophrenia and how these problems might affect people’s mental health. The study will also investigate whether these people would like to receive a brief therapy to improve sleep.
30 people in the early course of psychosis and 30 healthy people will take part. Sleep will be measured over 14 days using actigraphy (a watch like device that measures movement and light) Participants will complete questionnaires about their feelings, their beliefs about sleep and their sleep routine. Psychosis participants will also complete some more questions about their feelings in the morning and the evening, on the actiwatch. After the 14 days, 10 psychosis participants will also receive a 4-week sleep therapy to help them with their sleep routine.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0359
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion