Evaluating the Impact of Digital Behavioral Interventions to Address Insomnia and Depression in Breast Cancer Survivors Using an Adaptive Design

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Virginia

About this trial

Co-occurring symptoms of insomnia and depression is very common in breast cancer survivors, and it is critical that scalable and easily accessible digital behavioral interventions are made available. Digital health interventions are scalable and accessible. Moreover, behavioral digital interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of insomnia and depression, respectively, in breast cancer survivors, suggesting strong potential for public impact, though their potential for addressing co-occurring symptoms of insomnia/depression has not been tested. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a digital insomnia program and a digital mental health program in multiple ways: 1) as standalone interventions to reduce both symptoms of co-occurring insomnia and depression for breast cancer survivors; and 2) as components in adaptive behavioral treatment strategies that optimally sequence them for survivors who need additional support, resulting in a multifaceted supportive approach that is low cost, easily accessible, and highly efficient.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

(1) age ≥18 years

(2) Diagnosed with stage 0-3 breast cancer

(3) Primary treatment for cancer (i.e., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgical procedures intended to remove malignant tissue) finished between 3 months to 5 years from enrollment, with the exception of adjuvant hormonal, endocrine, and immunotherapy

(4) elevated insomnia severity as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score ≥ 10, and elevated symptoms of depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) score ≥ 10

Disqualifiers

(1) Current behavioral or psychological treatment for insomnia or depression

(2) a change in medication for insomnia or depression within the past 4 weeks

(3) irregular sleep schedules or shift work (i.e., usual bedtimes outside 8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. or arising time outside 4:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.)

(4) mental health condition deemed to interfere with study procedures or put the participant at undue risk based on self-reported history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, or active suicidal ideation that necessitates more intense care (as indicated from the Pitt-Optimum Suicide Management Protocol)

Trial design

Design model

Factorial

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Digital Insomnia Program

    Behavioral

    A self-guided, fully automated, interactive, and tailored internet-based program modeled on the primary tenants of face-to-face CBT-I (sleep restriction, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, sleep hygiene, relapse prevention). It is fully accessible as a web-based application via smartphones, computers, and tablets. Content is metered out over time through six "Cores". Each Core acts as a digital analog for the typical weekly sessions of face-to-face CBT for insomnia, following the same general structure: (1) Core objectives - what will be learned and why this information is important, (2) review of previous week's homework and sleep diary data, (3) new intervention material, (4) assignment of homework - treatment strategies for the coming week, and (5) a summary of the Core's main points. Users obtain access to a new Core based on a time- and event-based schedule (i.e., time since previous Core, completion of sleep diaries).

  • Digital Mental Health Program

    Behavioral

    A self-guided, fully automated app designed for brief, frequent check-ins to promote skill acquisition. Exercises in the app are assigned for 1 week each, and each exercise focuses on a specific mental health target (e.g., cognitive restructuring, savoring positive experiences, increasing knowledge of mental health).

  • Psychoeducation

    Behavioral

    An internet delivered program that includes modules containing general health information that is not specific to mental health or insomnia. Modules contain information on the topics such as exercise and heart health,. Content is primarily text-based and contains public domain health information; that is, content that is sourced primarily from US government health websites and is non-proprietary.

Treatment groups

747 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups
Group A: Digital Insomnia Program FirstExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Digital Mental Health Program FirstExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group C: Psychoeducation OnlyActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Patient Health-Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8)

8 item measure to evaluate severity of depression symptoms. Each item is evaluated on a scale from 0-3. Scores range from 0-24, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms of depression.

Time frame
Baseline
2

Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8)

8 item measure to evaluate severity of depression symptoms. Each item is evaluated on a scale from 0-3. Scores range from 0-24, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms of depression.

Time frame
Post 18-weeks
3

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

7 item measure to evaluate severity of insomnia symptoms. Each item is evaluated on a scale from 0-4. Scores range from 0-28, with higher scores indicating greater severity of insomnia symptoms.

Time frame
Baseline
4

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

7 item measure to evaluate severity of insomnia symptoms. Each item is evaluated on a scale from 0-4. Scores range from 0-28, with higher scores indicating greater severity of insomnia symptoms.

Time frame
Post 18-weeks

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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University of Virginia

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

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