Sleep as a Mechanism of Change in Alcohol Use Outcomes Among Heavy-Drinking Adults
University of Missouri-Columbia
Summary
This project aims to evaluate improvement of insomnia as a mechanism of improvement in alcohol use outcomes.
Description
Heavy alcohol use is prevalent in the United States and results in significant physical and psychological burden. One in 10 adults in the United States reports binge drinking on a weekly basis, and few are willing to seek mental health treatment. Thus, additional strategies are needed to engage and treat individuals at risk for alcohol-related harm. Half of those who screen positive for hazardous drinking report clinically significant symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia tends to be less stigmatized than other mental health disorders, and it is one condition for which the field has highly efficaciou…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–49 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * report heavy drinking in a typical week in the past month * meet DSM-5 criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder * meet DSM-5 and research diagnostic criteria for Insomnia Disorder Exclusion Criteria: * ≥50 years * unable to provide informed consent * report contraindications for CBT-I (mania or seizure disorder) * moderate to severe sleep apnea that is untreated * have symptoms requiring immediate clinical attention (e.g., psychosis, suicide plan) * are already receiving behavioral treatment for insomnia or alcohol use
Interventions
- BehavioralCognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Participants assigned to the CBT-I condition will attend 1-hour individual sessions of CBT-I once a week for five weeks. Consistent with clinical guidelines (Schutte-Rodin, Broch, Buysse, Dorsey, \& Sateia, 2008), treatment will include stimulus control (e.g., limit use of bed to sleep or sexual activity, get out of bed if lying awake for more than 20 minutes), sleep restriction (limit time in bed to amount of time spent sleeping on a typical night), sleep hygiene (e.g., avoid exercise within 2 hours of bedtime, create cool and dark sleep environment), relaxation training, and cognitive restructuring.
Location
- University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, Missouri