Actively Recruiting
Sleep and Emotion Processing in Adolescent Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Led by University of Wisconsin, Madison · Updated on 2026-01-13
180
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
232 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to characterize the role of sleep, emotion processing, and daily affect in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and whether improving sleep quality using slow wave activity enhancement will impact next-day affect in youth. Participants will attend 4 study visits: * A clinical and trauma assessment visit * A testing day that may include cognitive testing, surveys, and an MRI. * An overnight sleep study following one week of at-home sleep recordings with the device in the sham condition * An overnight sleep study following one week of at-home sleep recordings with the device in the sleep enhancement condition
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Sleep and Emotion Processing in Adolescent Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Aged 15-18 years old, inclusive
- Must agree to inform investigators within 48 hours of any emergent medical conditions and procedures
- Able to lie still on their back for up to 1 hour
- Must not be pregnant
- Must agree not to participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the study
- Must be willing to comply with all study procedures
- Agree to have study visits video and/or audio recorded
- A primary parent or guardian is willing to participate and provide informed consent
- Fluent in or predominantly speaking and reading English
- PTSD and TEC youth must have a history of at least one traumatic event as defined by DSM-V
- PTSD youth must meet threshold for current severe PTSD per KSADS interview
You will not qualify if you...
- Caregiver or adolescent unwilling or unable to give adequate informed consent
- Likely to be re-exposed to trauma, lack social support, or lack stable living situation during study
- Any finding making study unsuitable per investigator
- Participation in last 30 days in a clinical study involving investigational drug
- MRI contraindication or claustrophobia
- Inability to lie still in scanner after practice sessions
- Current serious suicide risk per KSADS, C-SSRS, or investigator judgment
- Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder
- Intellectual disability (IQ less than 70 per self-report)
- Currently impaired by medical condition preventing participation
- Traumatic brain injury with ongoing symptoms
- Neurological disorders like seizures, epilepsy, or brain tumors (except Tourette's disorder)
- Current use of medications or drugs interfering with sleep
- Possible pregnancy
- Typically developing youth with no history or current psychopathology except past specific phobia
- Current diagnosis of sleep disorder
- History of any traumatic experience for typically developing youth
- PTSD youth with current or history of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder
- TEC youth with current PTSD or psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53705
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sara Heyn, JD, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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