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Lay-led Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) Group for Older Adults in Hong Kong: A Pilot Study

Key facts

Who runs it
The University of Hong Kong
Where
Hong Kong, Hong KongSee the site
Trial code
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
50 people, planned
Started
Mar 2026
Expected to end
Dec 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Lay-led CBT-I brief group
  • Booklet on sleep health
Record updated
23 March 2026

Who can take part

Age
45 years and older
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Cannot take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 7 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Aged 45 or older
  • Have a PHQ-9 score between 5-9, and item 3 must be scored at 2 or higher
  • Experiencing existing symptoms of depression and sleep disturbance
  • Capable of providing informed consent for their participation in the study

Who cannot take part

  • Known history of intellectual disabilities, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or dementia
  • Assessed to be at active suicidal risk
  • Significant difficulties in communication

Where in Hong Kong

  • Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong KongContact: Yee Man Branda YUNo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of this clinical trial is to study whether a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) group led by laypersons serves as an effective tool for alleviating insomnia in older Chinese adults in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1) Can the group improve subjective sleep quality? 2) What is the feasibility and acceptability of the group? Researchers will compare the intervention group with a control group. Participants will either join the intervention group or receive a self-help booklet, depending on their assignment. Both groups will complete two questionnaires over a four-week period: Baseline and Week-4 data.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • The control group (CG)Existing treatment, for comparison

    Participants will receive a booklet on sleep hygiene education and will be asked to follow the instruction for 4 weeks for the same duration as the intervention group.

    Treatment: Booklet on sleep health

  • The emotional support assistant group (ESAG)Treatment being tested

    A brief in-person group for CBT-I, consisting of four sessions, with each session lasting approximately 1.5 hours and expected to be completed within a month. The sessions will cover four treatment components: sleep hygiene, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation exercises, all facilitated by trained Emotional Support Assistants.

    Treatment: Lay-led CBT-I brief group

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Record updated
23 March 2026