AlcoholismNCT02181569
Sleep Disturbance and Relapse in Individuals With Alcohol Dependence: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study
An observational study of Alcoholism, run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Despite research establishing the relationship between sleep disturbances and alcohol use, there is no clear understanding or model for what occurs once individuals who seek inpatient alcoholism treatment are discharged from rehabilitation facilities and attempt to integrate back into their homes and communities. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcoholism
- How many people
- 198 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 10 Jul 2014to 4 Mar 2019
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Treatment seeking individuals with alcohol dependence who are admitted into a 28-day inpatient treatment program.
Who may be able to join
- Participants will be eligible for this study if they are:
- 18 years of age or older,
- Enrolled on the screening, assessment and treatment protocol (14-AA-0181)
- Have been an inpatient for 21 days or more preceding discharge,
- Not enrolled onto a pharmacologic intervention study,
- Able to understand the study, and
- Willing to return to the Clinical Center 4-6 weeks after being discharged from inpatient treatment for a follow-up visit.
Who cannot join
- Participants will be ineligible for this study if they are:
- Less than 18 years of age,
- Unable to understand the purpose of the study,
- Unable to provide informed consent,
- Unable to follow the study design, or
- Unable or unwilling to return to the Clinical Center 4-6 weeks after being discharged from inpatient treatment for a follow-up visit.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Despite research establishing the relationship between sleep disturbances and alcohol use, there is no clear understanding or model for what occurs once individuals who seek inpatient alcoholism treatment are discharged from rehabilitation facilities and attempt to integrate back into their homes and communities. The purpose of this investigation will be to characterize sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs throughout the process of alcohol rehabilitation. The misuse of alcohol is a global public health concern that compromises both individual and societal wellbeing, resulting in an estimated 2.5 million deaths annually. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) distinguishes alcoholism by craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance (NIAAA, Alcohol Use Disorders). The relationship between alcohol use and sleep disturbances is complex and bidirectional, but sleep disturbances are common among alcoholics during phases of drinking, withdrawal, and abstinence. Outcome expectancies, behavioral capability, and self-efficacy beliefs are central constructs in the Social Cognitive Theory and will be measured directly in this study using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A mixed methods approach will be used to study the following aims: a) to assess individuals' perceptions of and experiences with sleep during alcohol rehabilitation, b) to describe sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs among alcohol-dependent individuals throughout the transition from a clinical research facility providing rehabilitation treatment back to the community, c) to assess whether sleep-related beliefs and/or behavior of individuals are predictive of sleep quality or relapse to drinking, and d) to assess whether sleep quality predicts relapse. Adult research participants admitted to the inpatient behavioral health unit and enrolled on to the NIAAA intramural study NCT 0010693: Assessment and Treatment of People with Alcohol Drinking Problems will be recruited for participation in this study (n=215). Sleep quality and duration will be quantitatively assessed approximately one week prior to discharge from the inpatient facility and again 4-6 weeks post-discharge. A sub-set of participants will be asked to wear actiwatches (accelerometers) to provide objective data on sleep throughout the transition from inpatient to outpatient. In addition to quantitative measures, qualitative semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subset of 25 participants (to reach 25 completed cases) within a week of the scheduled discharge date and again four to six weeks post-discharge to assess perceptions of sleep during recovery. The proposed study will fill a gap in the literature by characterizing sleep throughout the rehabilitation process and ongoing maintenance of abstinence.
Read the detailed description
Despite research establishing the relationship between sleep disturbances and alcohol use, there is no clear understanding or model for what occurs once individuals who seek inpatient alcoholism treatment are discharged from rehabilitation facilities and attempt to integrate back into their homes and communities. The purpose of this investigation will be to characterize sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs throughout the process of alcohol rehabilitation. The misuse of alcohol is a global public health concern that compromises both individual and societal wellbeing, resulting in an estimated 2.5 million deaths annually. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) distinguishes alcoholism by craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance (NIAAA, Alcohol Use Disorders). The relationship between alcohol use and sleep disturbances is complex and bidirectional, but sleep disturbances are common among alcoholics during phases of drinking, withdrawal, and abstinence. Outcome expectancies, behavioral capability, and self-efficacy beliefs are central constructs in the Social Cognitive Theory and will be measured directly in this study using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A mixed methods approach will be used to study the following aims: a) to assess individuals' perceptions of and experiences with sleep during alcohol rehabilitation, b) to describe sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs among alcohol-dependent individuals throughout the transition from a clinical research facility providing rehabilitation treatment back to the community, c) to assess whether sleep-related beliefs and/or behavior of individuals are predictive of sleep quality or relapse to drinking, and d) to assess whether sleep quality predicts relapse. Adult research participants admitted to the inpatient behavioral health unit and enrolled on to the NIAAA intramural study NCT 0010693: Assessment and Treatment of People with Alcohol Drinking Problems will be recruited for participation in this study (n=215). Sleep quality and duration will be quantitatively assessed approximately one week prior to discharge from the inpatient facility and again 4-6 weeks post-discharge. A sub-set of participants will be asked to wear actiwatches (accelerometers) to provide objective data on sleep throughout the transition from inpatient to outpatient. In addition to quantitative measures, qualitative semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subset of 25 participants (to reach 25 completed cases) within a week of the scheduled discharge date and again four to six weeks post-discharge to assess perceptions of sleep during recovery. The proposed study will fill a gap in the literature by characterizing sleep throughout the rehabilitation process and ongoing maintenance of abstinence.
- Conditions
- Alcoholism
- Keywords
- Addiction Severity Index, Addiction, Sleep Measures, Sleep Disorders, Natural History
- Medical subject headings
- Alcoholism, Behavior, Addictive, Sleep Wake Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment seeking participants with alcohol dependence | Treatment seeking individuals with alcohol dependence who are admitted into a 28-day inpatient treatment program. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PSQI
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a 19-item, self-rated questionnaire used to measure sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month (30 days) time interval. Nineteen individual items generate seven component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. A global summation score of five or higher is indicative of poor sleep quality (Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, \& Kupfer, 1989). The PSQI has been validated in populations with insomnia and other sleep disorders, with psychiatric patients, and in normal populations (Backhaus, Junghanns, Broocks, Riemann, \& Hohagen, 2002; Doi, Minowa, Uchiyama, Okawa, Kim, Shibui, \& Kamei, 2000).
Measured: Day 2 of inpatient admission, within 7 days of discharge, and 4-6 weeks after discharge
Secondary outcomes (1)
TLFB
The TLFB collects drinking information using personal historical events recounted over a fixed time period (Sobell \& Sobell, 1992). It is a standard assessment for measuring alcohol drinking patterns and quantification in treatment programs. The number of items corresponds to the number of days of interest, typically 90, which usually takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Measured: Day 13 and 4-6 weeks after discharge
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Jul 2014 (estimated)
- Study start10 Jul 2014
- Primary completion4 Mar 2019
- Study completion4 Mar 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AlcoholismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 198 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Jennifer J Barb-Smith, Ph.D., Principal investigator, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02181569
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 140143
- Other IDs
- 14-CC-0143
- Status last verified
- 2 Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jul 2014
- Last updated
- 6 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sleep Disturbance and Relapse in Individuals With Alcohol Dependence: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02181569
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 140143
- Conditions
- Alcoholism
- Keywords
- Addiction Severity Index, Addiction, Sleep Measures, Sleep Disorders, Natural History
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 198 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)US National Institutes of Health
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Study start
- 10 Jul 2014 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 Mar 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 Mar 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Jul 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Despite research establishing the relationship between sleep disturbances and alcohol use, there is no clear understanding or model for what occurs once individuals who seek inpatient alcoholism treatment are discharged from rehabilitation facilities and attempt to integrate back into their homes and communities. The purpose of this investigation will be to characterize sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs throughout the process of alcohol rehabilitation. The misuse of alcohol is a global public health concern that compromises both individual and societal wellbeing, resulting in an estimated 2.5 million deaths annually. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) distinguishes alcoholism by craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance (NIAAA, Alcohol Use Disorders). The relationship between alcohol use and sleep disturbances is complex and bidirectional, but sleep disturbances are common among alcoholics during phases of drinking, withdrawal, and abstinence. Outcome expectancies, behavioral capability, and self-efficacy beliefs are central constructs in the Social Cognitive Theory and will be measured directly in this study using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A mixed methods approach will be used to study the following aims: a) to assess individuals' perceptions of and experiences with sleep during alcohol rehabilitation, b) to describe sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs among alcohol-dependent individuals throughout the transition from a clinical research facility providing rehabilitation treatment back to the community, c) to assess whether sleep-related beliefs and/or behavior of individuals are predictive of sleep quality or relapse to drinking, and d) to assess whether sleep quality predicts relapse. Adult research participants admitted to the inpatient behavioral health unit and enrolled on to the NIAAA intramural study NCT 0010693: Assessment and Treatment of People with Alcohol Drinking Problems will be recruited for participation in this study (n=215). Sleep quality and duration will be quantitatively assessed approximately one week prior to discharge from the inpatient facility and again 4-6 weeks post-discharge. A sub-set of participants will be asked to wear actiwatches (accelerometers) to provide objective data on sleep throughout the transition from inpatient to outpatient. In addition to quantitative measures, qualitative semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subset of 25 participants (to reach 25 completed cases) within a week of the scheduled discharge date and again four to six weeks post-discharge to assess perceptions of sleep during recovery. The proposed study will fill a gap in the literature by characterizing sleep throughout the rehabilitation process and ongoing maintenance of abstinence.
Detailed description
Despite research establishing the relationship between sleep disturbances and alcohol use, there is no clear understanding or model for what occurs once individuals who seek inpatient alcoholism treatment are discharged from rehabilitation facilities and attempt to integrate back into their homes and communities. The purpose of this investigation will be to characterize sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs throughout the process of alcohol rehabilitation. The misuse of alcohol is a global public health concern that compromises both individual and societal wellbeing, resulting in an estimated 2.5 million deaths annually. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) distinguishes alcoholism by craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance (NIAAA, Alcohol Use Disorders). The relationship between alcohol use and sleep disturbances is complex and bidirectional, but sleep disturbances are common among alcoholics during phases of drinking, withdrawal, and abstinence. Outcome expectancies, behavioral capability, and self-efficacy beliefs are central constructs in the Social Cognitive Theory and will be measured directly in this study using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A mixed methods approach will be used to study the following aims: a) to assess individuals' perceptions of and experiences with sleep during alcohol rehabilitation, b) to describe sleep patterns, perceptions, and beliefs among alcohol-dependent individuals throughout the transition from a clinical research facility providing rehabilitation treatment back to the community, c) to assess whether sleep-related beliefs and/or behavior of individuals are predictive of sleep quality or relapse to drinking, and d) to assess whether sleep quality predicts relapse. Adult research participants admitted to the inpatient behavioral health unit and enrolled on to the NIAAA intramural study NCT 0010693: Assessment and Treatment of People with Alcohol Drinking Problems will be recruited for participation in this study (n=215). Sleep quality and duration will be quantitatively assessed approximately one week prior to discharge from the inpatient facility and again 4-6 weeks post-discharge. A sub-set of participants will be asked to wear actiwatches (accelerometers) to provide objective data on sleep throughout the transition from inpatient to outpatient. In addition to quantitative measures, qualitative semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subset of 25 participants (to reach 25 completed cases) within a week of the scheduled discharge date and again four to six weeks post-discharge to assess perceptions of sleep during recovery. The proposed study will fill a gap in the literature by characterizing sleep throughout the rehabilitation process and ongoing maintenance of abstinence.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment seeking participants with alcohol dependence | – | –Treatment seeking individuals with alcohol dependence who are admitted into a 28-day inpatient treatment program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Treatment seeking individuals with alcohol dependence who are admitted into a 28-day inpatient treatment program.
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- 18 years of age or older,
- Enrolled on the screening, assessment and treatment protocol (14-AA-0181)
- Have been an inpatient for 21 days or more preceding discharge,
- Not enrolled onto a pharmacologic intervention study,
- Able to understand the study, and
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Less than 18 years of age,
- Unable to understand the purpose of the study,
- Unable to provide informed consent,
- Unable to follow the study design, or
- Unable or unwilling to return to the Clinical Center 4-6 weeks after being discharged from inpatient treatment for a follow-up visit.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
PSQI
Time frame: Day 2 of inpatient admission, within 7 days of discharge, and 4-6 weeks after discharge
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a 19-item, self-rated questionnaire used to measure sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month (30 days) time interval. Nineteen individual items generate seven component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. A global summation score of five or higher is indicative of poor sleep quality (Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, \& Kupfer, 1989). The PSQI has been validated in populations with insomnia and other sleep disorders, with psychiatric patients, and in normal populations (Backhaus, Junghanns, Broocks, Riemann, \& Hohagen, 2002; Doi, Minowa, Uchiyama, Okawa, Kim, Shibui, \& Kamei, 2000).
1 secondary outcome
TLFB
Time frame: Day 13 and 4-6 weeks after discharge
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Oct 2026.
- NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web PageLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jennifer J Barb-Smith, Ph.D. principal investigator
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Alcoholism, run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
PSQI (time frame: Day 2 of inpatient admission, within 7 days of discharge, and 4-6 weeks after discharge). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Oct 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.