Teen insomniacs sought for sleep study

An actiwatch will be used to measure participants' sleep and wake patterns.

Researchers from the University of Sydney's Woolcock Institute of Medical Research are seeking insomnia sufferers of high school age to participate in a treatment trial.

Associate Professor Delwyn Bartlett from the Woolcock Institute's Sleep and Circadian Group said the trial would assess the effectiveness of a treatment program designed for young people who are experiencing sleep difficulties.

"We also hope to learn what information has been most valuable and what treatments participants found most beneficial," she said.

"The main treatment is a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment, which involves learning specific strategies to improve difficulties and gaining a better understanding of what maintains healthy sleep patterns.

"These strategies may include changing sleep-related behaviours that make sleep worse and helping participants think more realistically about their sleep as well as helping them to feel less night-time distress.

"Participants will be asked to attend an initial assessment, which includes an interview with a psychologist. They will then complete some short questionnaires relating to sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, mood, sleep beliefs and sleep patterns.

"As part of the assessment, participants will also be asked to keep a 'sleep diary' for one week, which is a one-page, seven-day, 24-hour grid used to record sleep/wake cycles.

"We will ask them to wear an actiwatch, a device that is worn on the non-dominant hand and measures activity over a set threshold.

"If recorded activity is over that threshold, it is assumed to be wakefulness and if activity is below that threshold it assumed to be sleep. An actiwatch is useful in that it measures sleep/wake patterns over a number of days whilst people are continuing with your normal daily life in your own home environment.

"If you are a young person of high school age who is experiencing problems sleeping, we would like to hear from you."

For additional information, contact Dr Delwyn Bartlett on 9114 0460 or Dr Amanda Gamble on 9411 0000.

Media enquiries: Rachel Gleeson, 0403 067 342, 9351 4312, rachel.gleeson@sydney.edu.au