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NCT Number: NCT06406309

Settling Down for Sleep in ADHD: The Impact of Sensory and Arousal Systems on Sleep in ADHD

The goal of this study is test the hypothesis that sleep problems for children with ADHD are linked to sensory over-responsivity, a type of sensory processing difference that causes a person to interpret daily sensory input as stressful. This study examines the impact of sensory over-responsivity on bedtime arousal levels in 30 children with ADHD (ages 6-13). We will also test a bedtime intervention targeting sensory over-responsivity at bedtime and examine how it impacts bedtime arousal levels and sleep difficulties.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodevelopmental Disorders Parasomnias Sleep Disturbance Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

6 year–13 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219, United States

About this study

Following the consent process, baseline data collection will be completed electronically with questionnaires sent digitally to participants (parent and child) using a secure, web-based application (REDCap). Participants will then complete a virtual clinical baseline interview and training on the wear of the EmbracePlus ("watch") and the daily virtual sleep diary. Upon completion of this, the study team will then send the watch and its accessories to the participant via the mail.

Time point 1 home-based data collection (1 week): Once the caregiver and child receive the watch and study materials, home-based data collection will start. During this 1-week period, the child will wear the watch 24-hours/day for one week and the caregiver(s) will complete daily sleep diary entries (morning and evening). At the end of this data collection period, the study materials will be brought into the lab session.

Lab-based session (1-2 hours): Participants and caregivers will complete a training session on the environmental changes and a novel bedtime manipulation intervention called the "Power Down".

Time point 2 home-based data collection (2 weeks): Participants will apply any sleep environment changes identified during the lab session, complete the 'power down" each night, child will wear the watch 24hrs/day, and caregivers will complete daily sleep diaries (morning and evening). At the end of this timepoint, all study materials will be mailed back to the study team and a virtual exit interview will be completed. Final sleep and intervention acceptability questionnaires will be completed virtually.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Child aged 6-13 years
  • A reported clinical diagnosis of ADHD or suspected ADHD and 6+ items endorsed as "quite a bit" or "very much" a single domain on SNAP-IV (ADHD symptomology questionnaire)
  • Parents endorse >20 minutes to settle down and fall asleep
  • Caregiver willing to participate in all bedtimes during intervention.
  • Willing to come into the lab in Pittsburgh

Exclusion criteria

  • Concurrent organic sleep disorder (sleep apnea, narcolepsy), psychiatric (major depression, bipolar, OCD, psychosis, schizophrenia)
  • Current behavioral treatment for sleep disorder
  • Unstable ADHD medication use (dose or timing)
  • Children who have trauma or other histories for whom physical touch is triggering (per caregiver report) will be excluded.
  • If a child spends bedtime at a different caregiver's home for >50% of the nights and that caregiver is not willing to participate in this study, the child will be excluded from this study.

Treatment and study plan

Power Down manipulation

Behavioral

The Power Down is a bedtime manipulation protocol targeting elevated arousal level at bedtime due to a hypothesized effect of sensory over-responsivity (a common experience for children with ADHD). The Power Down incorporates sensory-based tools (gentle tactile pressure and auditory cues) to support nervous system regulation prior to attempting sleep onset. Caregivers will lead a nightly gentle massage with guided relaxation script just prior to the child trying to fall asleep during the 2-week intervention phase. The child will also wear a watch-like activity monitor (ActiGraph GT9x) for the 2 week period throughout the day and night to measure changes in sleep and activity patterns. Caregivers will complete daily diary questions in the morning and evening reporting their child's emotions and sleep timing.

Primary outcomes

  1. General Sensory over-responsivity

    Time frame: Baseline

    Caregiver-reported Sensory Profile-2 questionnaire: Sensitivity sub scale score (score range of 0 - 95, with higher numbers indicating more frequent endorsement)

  2. General bedtime arousal

    Time frame: Baseline

    Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale total score (range of 16-80): caregiver- and child-reported arousal experiences prior to bedtime. Likert scale (1-5, with 1 indicating that the person does not experience the symptom at all and 5 indicating that a person experiences the symptom extremely).

  3. General Emotion dysregulation

    Time frame: Baseline

    Emotion Dysregulation Inventory Short Form: Reactivity and Dysphoria total scores: Caregiver-reported questionnaire scored on a Likert scale from 1 ("Not at all") to 5 (Very Severe"). Reactivity sub scale is a total of 8 questions (range of 8-40) and dysphoria sub scale is a total of 5 questions (range of 5-25).

  4. Daily bedtime arousal level

    Time frame: Daily for 2 weeks

    The Empatica Embrace Plus is a watch-like device that captures movement and electrodermal activity during wear. The child will wear the Empatica all day and night for 2 weeks. The bedtime period will be isolated and measures of movement (maximum magnitude of activity using accelerometery) and electrodermal activity (maximum skin conductance levels) will be extracted to assess bedtime arousal level nightly.

  5. Daily bedtime emotion dysregulation

    Time frame: Daily for 2 weeks

    Emotion Dysregulation Inventory Short Form Reactivity and Dysphoria sub scales: Caregiver-reported questionnaire scored on a Likert scale from 1 ("Not at all") to 5 (Very Severe"). Reactivity sub scale is a total of 8 questions (range of 8-40) and dysphoria sub scale is a total of 5 questions (range of 5-25).

  6. Change in sleep disturbances

    Time frame: Baseline and after 2 week intervention

    Change in PROMIS Sleep Disturbances Scale: Caregiver reported outcome with 15 questions on a Likert scale of 1 ("Never") to 5 ("Always"). Scoring ranges from 15 - 75. Baseline and post intervention total scores will be examined to measure change in sleep disturbances across time.

  7. Intervention Feasibility

    Time frame: After 2 week intervention

    Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM): Caregiver-reported questionnaire with 4 questions on a Likert scale of 1 ("Completely disagree") to 5 ("Completely agree"). Scoring ranges from 4-20.

  8. Intervention Acceptability

    Time frame: After 2 week intervention

    Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM): Caregiver-reported questionnaire with 4 questions on a Likert scale of 1 ("Completely disagree") to 5 ("Completely agree"). Scoring ranges from 4-20.

  9. Intervention Appropriateness

    Time frame: After 2 week intervention

    Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM): Caregiver-reported questionnaire with 4 questions on a Likert scale of 1 ("Completely disagree") to 5 ("Completely agree"). Scoring ranges from 4-20.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Circadian preference

    Time frame: Baseline

    Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire: Child-reported questionnaire with 10 multiple choice questions scored on a scale of 1 to 4 or 5 with a higher score indicating a stronger morning preference and a lower score indicating minimal morning preference (range of score is 10 - 42)

  2. Change in sleep difficulties

    Time frame: Daily across 2 weeks

    Using the actigraphy data and data from daily diaries, we will calculate sleep onset latency each night of baseline (1 week) and across the 1 week of intervention trial

  3. Change in sleep related impairment

    Time frame: Baseline and after 2 week intervention

    Change in total score of the PROMIS Sleep Related Impairment Scale: Caregiver reported outcome with 4 questions on a Likert scale of 1 ("Never") to 5 ("Always"). Scoring ranges from 4-20. Total score will be collected at baseline and post intervention and change scores will be calculated.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Other

Collaborators

  • The Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Settling Down for Sleep: The Impact of Sensory and Arousal Systems on Sleep in ADHD

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 9, 2024
Registry last updated
Aug 12, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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