Brief Versus Standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Veterans
Reason given: Loss of investigator staff
Key facts
- Where
- Canandaigua and San Diego, United StatesSee the 2 sites
Where in United States
- VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, NYCanandaigua, United StatesNo longer taking part
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CASan Diego, United StatesNo longer taking part
Trial details
- Who runs it
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Trial code
- NCT05724498
- Record updated
- 20 March 2026
- Original description
Insomnia is a common condition in Veterans, with prevalence rates as high as 53% among treatment-seeking Veterans. Chronic untreated insomnia is associated with increased risk for functional impairment, psychiatric illness, suicidal ideation, unhealthy lifestyles, and decreased quality of life. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recognized as the first-line treatment for insomnia. Despite its proven efficacy, CBT-I is not always readily provided and/or accessible to Veterans. To address these limitations, behavioral sleep medicine specialists have endeavored to streamline CBT-I through development of time-shortened variations of CBT-I. Although these modifications show promise for advancing care and access, studies comparing brief treatments to standard CBT-I have yet to be performed. This investigation will therefore compare a 4-session brief CBT-I to VA standard 6-session CBT-I to evaluate whether a brief intervention can provide comparable benefits to sleep, functional, and psychiatric outcomes in Veterans with insomnia.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Brief and Standard Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies for Insomnia in Veterans
Insomnia is a common condition in Veterans, with prevalence rates as high as 53% among treatment-seeking Veterans. Chronic untreated insomnia is associated with increased risk for functional impairment, psychiatric illness, suicidal ideation, unhealthy lifestyles, and decreased quality of life. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recognized as the first-line treatment for insomnia. Despite its proven efficacy, CBT-I is not always readily provided and/or accessible to Veterans. To address these limitations, behavioral sleep medicine specialists have endeavored to streamline CBT-I through development of time-shortened variations of CBT-I. Although these modifications show promise for advancing care and access, studies comparing brief treatments to standard CBT-I have yet to be performed. This investigation will therefore compare a 4-session brief CBT-I to VA standard 6-session CBT-I to evaluate whether a brief intervention can provide comparable benefits to sleep, functional, and psychiatric outcomes in Veterans with insomnia.
Inclusion: A diagnosis of insomnia as classified by the (a) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM 5) which includes daytime impairment in functioning for > 3 months and occurring at least 3 nights per week and (b) subjective sleep disturbance defined by an Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score >7 at intake; Meets current DSM 5 criteria for a comorbid mental health disorder; No formal therapist guided treatment with brief or standard Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia within the past 2 years; on stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment in study.
Exclusion: alcohol and/or substance use disorder for 90 days prior to intake, but past history of alcohol and/or substance use is not exclusionary; History of a acute or unstable neurological disorder(s), dementia, or premorbid IQ <70; Schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, and/or bipolar disorder; Suicidality more than "medium risk" as determined by the VA Comprehensive Suicide Risk Assessment; Sleep disturbances other than insomnia (e.g., untreated obstructive sleep apnea, periodic limb movements, narcolepsy, and/or circadian-based sleep disruptions).