Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Older African American Adults Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Sleep Education

What this Trial Is About

Sleep difficulties like insomnia are common among older African American adults, with about a quarter of older adults in the US experiencing symptoms such as trouble falling or staying asleep for a month or longer. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia CBT-I is a non-drug treatment that addresses the underlying causes of insomnia by changing thoughts and behaviors about sleep. This approach may improve sleep quality for a long time, but its effects specifically in older African American adults have not been well studied. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of CBT-I in this group and gather early evidence of its potential benefits on sleep and cognitive function. Participants will either receive eight weekly CBT-I sessions via Zoom, focusing on sleep education, changing sleep-related thinking, training the brain for optimal sleep environments, and setting a consistent sleep schedule by initially limiting sleep time before increasing it. Another group will have one session providing education about improving sleep quality. The study includes pre- and post-intervention assessments along with a three-month follow-up. Throughout the study, participants will complete paper questionnaires, cognitive tests, 7-day wrist activity monitoring actigraphy, and two nights of at-home sleep monitoring that measures brain waves and sleep stages. Computer-based neuropsychological tests will also be done before and after treatment, and again at follow-up three months later. Researchers will measure adherence to treatment over eight weeks, sleep efficiency, and cognitive performance to understand the effects of the interventions.

CBT-I in Older African American Adults