Caregiver Stress and Sleep Study

Conditions studied

Depressive Symptoms, Caregiver Burden

About this study

The purpose of this research study is to better understand how stress, sleep and activity might impact caregivers' mood and brain health. This study includes a randomized experimental component where therapists will systematically deliver one of two evidence-based talk-therapy treatments. The aim is to evaluate effects on meaningful health-relevant measures including morning activation levels, depression symptoms, rumination, and aspects brain connectivity previously linked with depression. Participants will complete surveys about their caregiving experiences, health, and mood, undergo an MRI, and wear an actigraphy watch that measures activity levels throughout the day and when sleeping.

Interventions

• Behavioral: Morning Action Plan Execution — Each day, participants are asked to track if they do the morning activity plan.
• Behavioral: Activity Strategy-based Session with Therapist — Participants will meet weekly with a trained therapist to discuss their prescribed activity plan. If unsuccessful, at weekly follow-ups, participants are asked to refine their plan or make a new one. Each session lasts about 30-45 minutes.
• Behavioral: Attention-based Session with Therapist — Participants will meet weekly with trained a therapist to talk about stressors they experience, providing an opportunity to voice and self-address their problems. In this control condition, therapists will not deliver any particular strategy except for active listening and referring to the educational materials
• Behavioral: Advance sleep-wake time — Some participants will be asked to adjust their sleep schedule to accommodate morning activity engagement by introducing or altering mechanisms known promote early rising (i.e., light exposure, reward and processes, etc.)

Primary outcomes

• Change from baseline in rumination at 6-months (Baseline, continuously up to weekly for 6-weeks, and follow-up (6 months))
• Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 6-months (Baseline, continuously up to weekly for 6-weeks, and follow-up (6 months))
• Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms at 6-months (Baseline, continuously up to weekly for 6-weeks, and follow-up (6 months))
• Change in objective Morning Activation Deficits (MADs) over 1 week (Continuously for up to 1-week at baseline)
• Change in self-report Morning Activation Deficits (MADs) at 6-months (Baseline, continuously up to weekly for 6-weeks, and follow-up (6 months))
• Change in resting-state connectivity at 6-weeks (Baseline and 6-weeks)
• Change in neurological response to rumination cues at 6 weeks (Baseline and 6-weeks)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• UPMC Western Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 United States