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Caregiver Stress and Sleep Study

University of Pittsburgh · with National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NCT05219955

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 55+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
120
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
July 15, 2022
Record last updated
May 19, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The purpose of this research study is to better understand how stress, sleep and activity might impact caregivers' mood and brain health. This study includes a randomized experimental component where therapists will systematically deliver one of two evidence-based talk-therapy treatments. The aim is to evaluate effects on meaningful health-relevant measures including morning activation levels, depression symptoms, rumination, and aspects brain connectivity previously linked with depression. Participants will complete surveys about their caregiving experiences, health, and mood, undergo an MRI, and wear an actigraphy watch that measures activity levels throughout the day and when sleeping.

Being studied: Morning Action Plan Execution; Activity Strategy-based Session with Therapist; Attention-based Session with Therapist; Advance sleep-wake time

Conditions: Depressive Symptoms; Caregiver Burden

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 55 years or older.
  • Provide at least 15 hours/week of unpaid care to a patient with a dementia diagnosis.
  • Reporting stress or strain delivering care
  • No or stable pharmacotherapy for depression
  • Meets screening definition for having morning activation difficulty or a definite morning type per the Composite Morningness Questionnaire (CMQ)

Exclusion Criteria

  • Unsafe or unable to undergo MRI
  • Active Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for mood or insomnia
  • Probable dementia diagnosis
  • Deadly illness or plans to leave the study area
  • Current active substance use disorder

Recruiting US locations

  • UPMC Western Behavioral Health

    Pittsburgh, PA 15213

    Site contact: Sara Sellars, MA · 412-246-5963 · alberts3@upmc.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Sara Sellars, MA · 412-246-5963 · alberts3@upmc.edu
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Caregiver Stress and Sleep Study (NCT05219955) | Bored Studies