Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Older African American Adults

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