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Sleep and Circadian Interventions for College Students at High Risk of Suicide

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07346014

PhaseNA

Enrollment90

SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh

Age18 Years

SexALL

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Conditions studied

Sleep Disturbance, Sleep, Depression, Suicide

About this study

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which delivering sleep and circadian focused interventions in addition to evidenced based psychiatric care for depression and suicide risk may contribute to decreasing suicide risk among high risk young adults. Investigators will evaluate three interventions targeting sleep in acutely suicidal college students enrolled in intensive outpatient treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: 1. Triple Chronotherapy (TCT)+ Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TSC) 2. Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TSC) 3. Sleep Feedback (SF) Participants will be followed for 6 months with primary outcome domains of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and depression evaluated by blinded clinicians at short (Days 1-4 of intervention), medium (2 months) and long (6 month) term intervals.

Interventions

Behavioral: Sleep Feedback + Psychoeducation — Participants are provided with an actigraphy watch that is used to monitor their sleep and activity throughout the day and complete a sleep diary daily. Along with wearing the watch they also will be provided access to their actigraphy and sleep diary graphs that document their data on demand via smartphone link.
Behavioral: Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention + Bright Light (TSC+) — Behavioral: TSC+ • This intervention includes participants attending 6-8 sessions of a manualized sleep intervention with a Sleep Therapist, delivered in person or videoconference, as well as daily bright light therapy (up to one hour daily) and blue light blocking glasses (up to one hour before bedtime)
Behavioral: Triple Chronotherapy (TCT+) — Behavioral: TCT+ • One night of total sleep deprivation followed by three nights of sleep phase advancement in the sleep lab, daily bright light therapy (up to one hour daily) and blue light blocking glasses (up to one hour before bedtime), in a sleep lab.

Primary outcomes

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors via CSSRS ((short term) Intervention Days 1-4)
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors via CSSRS ((medium term) 2 month follow up)
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors via CSSRS ((long term) 6 month follow up)
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors via LIFE SI/SIB scale ((medium term) 2mo follow up)
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors via LIFE SI/SIB scale ((long term) 6mo follow up)
Depression via KSADS Depression Rating Scale ((short term) Intervention Days 1-4)
Depression via KSADS Depression Rating Scale ((medium term) 2mo follow up)
Depression via KSADS Depression Rating Scale ((long term) 6mo follow up)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: * Enrolled or planning to enroll in treatment at COSTAR Intensive Outpatient Program * English language fluency and literacy sufficient to engage in study protocol * Suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in past month * Clinically significant sleep disturbance, operationalized as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global PSQI score \>= 7, and/or delayed bedtimes (\>midnight), and/or \>2 hours in sleep timing variability Exclusion Criteria: * Non-affective psychosis per electronic health record (EHR) review and/or baseline clinical assessment, or symptom severity or psychosocial functioning impairments that preclude participation * Contraindications for either sleep deprivation or bright light therapy (e.g., bipolar disorder; seizure disorder; photosensitizing medication) * Intellectual disability precluding comprehension of study procedures * Evidence of untreated obstructive sleep apnea and/or restless legs syndrome * Life-threatening medical condition requiring immediate treatment (such as cancer; end stage disease) * Pregnancy

Study locations

Western Psychiatric Hospital/University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 United States

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.