Comparing Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia to Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Veterans with PTSD and Insomnia

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating treatments for insomnia in Veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD. This study compares a brief behavioral treatment for insomnia BBTI with progressive muscle relaxation training PMRT to examine improvements in psychosocial functioning and insomnia severity. The study also investigates whether treatment benefits last over time and if suicidal thoughts decrease after insomnia treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives four sessions of BBTI, involving video and telephone meetings lasting between 30 to 60 minutes, without relaxation techniques. The other group receives four sessions of PMRT, also delivered via video and telephone, using relaxation training matched in duration to BBTI. Both interventions include two video sessions and two phone sessions. The BBTI group will have a 6-month follow-up to assess the durability of treatment effects. Participants will complete mental health interviews and self-report measures on psychosocial functioning, insomnia severity, and mental health symptoms at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up for the BBTI group. Sleep patterns will be tracked through daily sleep diaries starting one week before treatment through post-treatment, and at 6-month follow-up for BBTI participants. Researchers will assess work and social adjustment as the primary outcome and insomnia severity as a secondary outcome, along with monitoring suicidal ideation using established scales throughout the study.

Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder