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InsomniaNCT05548907

Sleep Restriction Treatment for Insomnia

A study testing sleep restriction treatment and sleep diary monitoring in people with Insomnia, run by VU University of Amsterdam at 1 site in Netherlands.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

With a prevalence of about 10% chronic insomnia is a common problem. The standard treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy. According to many, the core element within this treatment is sleep restriction. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Insomnia
What is being tested?
sleep restriction treatment and sleep diary monitoring
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
148 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
20 Sep 2022to 11 Nov 2023
Phase
Interventional
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
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Insomnia Severity Index Score ≥ 10
  • 18 years or older
  • Self reported insomnia complaints: being awake ≥30 minutes per night, ≥3 nights per week, ≥ 3 months
  • Daytime problems related to sleep complaints
  • Sleep efficiency < 85%
  • Dutch speaking

Who cannot join

  • (1) No acces to internet
  • (2) Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • (3) working in night shifts
  • (4) currently in psychological treatment (started < 6 months) or on wait-list for treatment
  • (5) cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia in last 12 months
  • (6) concrete suicidal ideation
Show all 9Show fewer
  • (7) schizophrenic or psychotic disorder
  • (8) high level of depressive complaints (BDI-II > 28)
  • (9) Instable medication use (medication should not be tampered in last 6 weeks) incidental sleep-medication use is allowed

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Netherlands1 site
  • University of Amsterdam

    Amsterdam, North Holland

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Sleep Restriction Treatment for Insomnia: a Randomized Controlled Trial

With a prevalence of about 10% chronic insomnia is a common problem. The standard treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy. According to many, the core element within this treatment is sleep restriction. This element has been examined separately in a couple of studies and also appears to be effective in isolation. In the current study the aim is to get more information about the effectiveness of this core element of the treatment. For this reason, a randomized study is conducted to compare sleep restriction with a diary control condition.

The second aim in this study is to determine mechanisms behind treatments. Network intervention analysis will be used to determine which specific symptoms are associated with therapy success. This is the reason that throughout the study weekly and daily measures will be conducted.

Read more

The expectations are that:

  • Participants in the sleep restriction condition will improve more on insomnia complaints than the sleep diary control condition (primary outcome)
  • Participants in the sleep restriction condition will improve more on sleep diary outcomes and other secondary outcomes compared to the sleep diary control condition (secondary outcome)
Conditions
Insomnia
Being tested
sleep restriction treatment, sleep diary monitoring
Keywords
insomnia, behavioral treatment, randomized controlled trial
Medical subject headings
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • sleep restriction treatmentBehavioural

    Treatment consists of sleep restriction treatment for insomnia. In this treatment, participants limit their bedtimes to the time they actually sleep. If they sleep most of the time in bed again then bedtimes are slowly built up again. This treatment technique has already been studied in several trials and found to be effective.

    Mode of delivery is an online booklet, online exercises and weekly telephone support

  • sleep diary monitoringBehavioural

    As an active control condition people monitor their sleep with a sleep diary (also included in the sleep restriction intervention)

Study groups in NCT05548907
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Sleep restriction treatmentExperimentalIn this condition participants receive a behavioral sleep restriction intervention for six weeks
Receives: Behavioral: sleep restriction treatment
Sleep monitoringPlacebo comparatorIn this control condition people fill out a sleep diary for six weeks
Receives: Behavioral: sleep diary monitoring

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Insomnia Severity Index

    The Insomnia Severity Index is a seven item-scale scored on a five-point Likert scale (Bastien et al. 2001). The total score ranges from 0 to 28. Higher scores indicate more insomnia.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

Secondary outcomes (35)
  1. Sleep diary: sleep onset latency

    Sleep onset latency is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer sleep onset latency).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-weeks post-randomization

  2. Sleep diary: sleep onset latency

    Sleep onset latency is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer sleep onset latency).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  3. Sleep diary: wake after sleep onset

    Wake after sleep onset is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer wake after sleep onset).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-weeks post-randomization

  4. Sleep diary: wake after sleep onset

    Wake after sleep onset is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer wake after sleep onset )

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  5. Sleep diary: terminal wakefulness

    Terminal wakefulness is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer terminal wakefulness).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-weeks post-randomization

  6. Sleep diary: terminal wakefulness

    Terminal wakefulness is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer terminal wakefulness).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  7. Sleep diary: sleep efficiency

    Sleep efficiency is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in percentage (higher scores indicating better sleep efficiency).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-weeks post-randomization

  8. Sleep diary: sleep efficiency

    Sleep efficiency is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in percentage (higher scores indicating better sleep efficiency).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  9. Sleep diary: total sleep time

    Total sleep time is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer total sleep time).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-weeks post-randomization

  10. Sleep diary: total sleep time

    Total sleep time is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer total sleep time).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  11. Sleep diary: time in bed

    Time in bed is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer time in bed).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-weeks post-randomization

  12. Sleep diary: time in bed

    Time in bed is assessed with the Carney (2012) consensus sleep diary. This is measured in minutes (higher scores indicating longer time in bed).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  13. Cognitive arousal

    cognitive arousal is measured daily with a visual analogue scale

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post randomization

  14. Somatic arousal

    Somatic arousal is measured daily with a visual analogue scale

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post randomization

  15. Current sleepiness

    Sleepiness is measured daily with a visual analogue scale

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post randomization

  16. Insomnia Severity

    The Insomnia Severity Index is a seven item-scale scored on a five-point Likert scale (Bastien et al. 2001). The total score ranges from 0 to 28. Higher scores indicate more insomnia.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  17. Sleep safety

    Sleep safety behaviors are measured with the Dutch translation of the 32-item Sleep-Related Behaviors Questionnaire-SRBQ (Ree \& Harvey, 2004). The total score ranges from 0 (no safety behaviors) to 128 (severe safety behaviors).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  18. Sleep safety

    Sleep safety behaviors are measured with the Dutch translation of the 32-item Sleep-Related Behaviors Questionnaire-SRBQ (Ree \& Harvey, 2004). The total score ranges from 0 (no safety behaviors) to 128 (severe safety behaviors).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  19. Epworth Sleepiness Scale

    To assess daytime sleepiness the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is used. The ESS consists of 8-items on a 4-point Likert scale (range 0-24) with higher scores indicating more sleepiness.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  20. Epworth Sleepiness Scale

    To assess daytime sleepiness the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is used. The ESS consists of 8-items on a 4-point Likert scale (range 0-24) with higher scores indicating more sleepiness.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  21. Pre-sleep arousal

    Sleep-related arousal was measured with the Pre-sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) (Nicassio et al. 1985). The PSAS consists of 16 items that range from 1 ('not at all') to 5 ('extremely'), higher scores indicating more arousal (range 16-80).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  22. Pre-sleep arousal

    Sleep-related arousal was measured with the Pre-sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) (Nicassio et al. 1985). The PSAS consists of 16 items that range from 1 ('not at all') to 5 ('extremely'), higher scores indicating more arousal (range 16-80).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  23. Sleep-bed association

    Sleep-bed association is measured with a newly constructed scale of 5 items on a 7-point Likert scale (0-6). Higher scores indicating a stronger sleep-bed association (range 0-30)

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  24. Sleep-bed association

    Sleep-bed association is measured with a newly constructed scale of 5 items on a 7-point Likert scale (0-6). Higher scores indicating a stronger sleep-bed association (range 0-30)

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  25. Dysfunctional beliefs

    Dysfunctional beliefs about sleep are measured using the 16-item Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS-16) (Morin et al. 2017). Items are scored on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10). Higher scores indicating more dysfunctional beliefs (range 0-160).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  26. Dysfunctional beliefs

    Dysfunctional beliefs about sleep are measured using the 16-item Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS-16) (Morin et al. 2017). Items are scored on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10). Higher scores indicating more dysfunctional beliefs (range 0-160).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  27. Depression

    Depression is measured with the Dutch version of a nine-item depression scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; range 0-27, Cronbach's α = 0.94; Spitzer et al., 1999). Higher scores indicating more depression.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  28. Depression

    Depression is measured with the Dutch version of a nine-item depression scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; range 0-27, Cronbach's α = 0.94; Spitzer et al., 1999). Higher scores indicating more depression.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  29. Anxiety

    Anxiety is measured with the Anxiety section of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A; Cronbach's α = 0.84, seven items on a four-point Likert scale, scores ranging 0-21; Spinhoven et al., 1997). Higher scores indicating more anxiety.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  30. Anxiety

    Anxiety is measured with the Anxiety section of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A; Cronbach's α = 0.84, seven items on a four-point Likert scale, scores ranging 0-21; Spinhoven et al., 1997). Higher scores indicating more anxiety.

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  31. Acceptance

    Acceptance is measured with 10-items of the 'flexibiliteits index test'. Items are scored on a 7-point Likert scale (0-6) and higher scores indicate more acceptance (range 0-60).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization

  32. Acceptance

    Acceptance is measured with 10-items of the 'flexibiliteits index test'. Items are scored on a 7-point Likert scale (0-6) and higher scores indicate more acceptance (range 0-60).

    Measured: Change from baseline to six-month follow-up (intervention only)

  33. Adverse events

    Participants asked to report adverse events ("Did anything unpleasant happen to you that was related to your sleep or participation in the trial?"

    Measured: Six-weeks post-randomization

  34. Treatment quality

    Treatment quality is rated with a single question 'how do you rate the treatment'. This is rated on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10) with higher scores indicating more satisfaction (intervention only)

    Measured: Six-weeks post-randomization

  35. Rating coach

    Coaches are rated with a single question 'how satisfied were you with your coach during the treatment'. This is rated on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10) with higher scores indicating more satisfaction

    Measured: Six-weeks post-randomization

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Sep 2022
  2. Study start20 Sep 2022
  3. Primary completion11 Nov 2023
  4. Study completion11 Nov 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This is a randomized controlled trial where participants are allocated to either a sleep restriction treatment condition or a sleep monitoring control condition. All participants keep a daily sleep diary and fill out weekly questionnaires
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
148 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05548907
Sponsor's protocol ID
2022-CP-15342
Status last verified
Dec 2023
First submitted
6 Sep 2022
Last updated
22 Dec 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Data will be available upon requests

Publications

  • Klau MM, Lancee J, Looman MI, Van Der Maas HLJ, Visser RM, Blanken TF. From night-to-night and from person-to-person: dynamic phenomena of insomnia. Sleep Adv. 2026 Mar 23;7(2):zpag035. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpag035. eCollection 2026.

    PubMed 42095130
  • Looman MI, Klau MM, Schoenmakers TM, Kamphuis JH, Blanken TF, Lancee J. The Adherence Conundrum of Sleep Restriction Therapy for Insomnia. J Sleep Res. 2026 Aug;35(4):e70339. doi: 10.1111/jsr.70339. Epub 2026 Apr 1.

    PubMed 41918497
  • Looman MI, Blanken TF, Schoenmakers TM, Reesen JE, Effting M, Linnebank FE, van Straten A, Kamphuis JH, Lancee J. Telephone-Guided Sleep Restriction for Insomnia: A Randomized Sleep Diary-Controlled Trial. Psychother Psychosom. 2025;94(3):147-161. doi: 10.1159/000545138. Epub 2025 Mar 21.

    PubMed 40122034

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing sleep restriction treatment and sleep diary monitoring in people with Insomnia, run by VU University of Amsterdam at 1 site in Netherlands.

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 6 inclusion and 9 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 22 Dec 2023. 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 Netherlands. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Insomnia Severity Index (time frame: Change from baseline to six weeks post-randomization). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05548907, which also lists 3 linked publications.

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 22 Dec 2023.

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