Sleep Restriction Therapy (SRT) for Sleep Problems in Children With Autism

Stanford University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Autism

Treatments: Behavioral: Sleep Restriction Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06627205

IRB-76796

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this open label trial is to examine the acceptability, tolerability, and feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of sleep restriction therapy for sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Treatment will be delivered via secure telemedicine platform and consist of parent-training in delivering the intervention.

Enrollment: 25 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (based on history, review of available medical records including diagnostic testing, e.g., Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and/or Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, Childhood Autism Rating Scale-2)
• with sleep disturbances (based on clinical interview, and Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children score > 38)
• stable pre-existing medication plans for at least 2 weeks
• no planned changes in psychosocial and biomedical interventions during the intervention
• an English-speaking parent able to consistently participate in study procedures
• reside in California, USA

Exclusion criteria

• parent or child diagnosed with severe psychiatric disorder or unstable medical problem
• children with active seizures or epilepsy
• primary sleep disorder is a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder, as determined by the sleep interview and Children's ChronoType Questionnaire.
• current active trial of sleep restriction therapy or history of an adequate trial of sleep restriction therapy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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25 participants in 1 patient group

Sleep Restriction Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants attend telehealth sessions once per week for three weeks and implement sleep restriction therapy in between sessions and for 4 weeks during a follow-up period.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Sleep Restriction Therapy