The Power Down Pilot Study: A Novel Bedtime Manipulation Protocol

NCT ID: NCT06386029

Last Updated: 2025-08-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 10 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-07-05
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-31

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot intervention study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel bedtime manipulation protocol called "The Power Down" for autistic youth, ages 6-10. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Is the Power Down feasible for caregivers to do each night?

2. Do the families find the Power Down an acceptable intervention to address their child's difficulties settling down to fall asleep?

Detailed Description

Interested participants will contact the research team and complete screening to determine eligibility (see Screener document). For eligible participants, the informed consent form will be sent and a consent call or video call will be scheduled. The study team will complete the consent process with eligible caregivers (on phone or via video call) and a consent form will be sent via DocuSign for the caregiver to sign.

Following the consent process, questionnaires (below) will be sent via REDCap to complete and a in-lab training meeting will be scheduled. During the in-lab training meeting, the PI (Hartman) will complete the bedtime manipulation training (details found in the Power Down Protocol document found in the Basic Study Information section of this IRB). After the education training, the caregiver(s) will be instructed in the "Power Down massage" and they will practice with their child in the lab and receive feedback on their delivery of the massage. The caregiver(s) and their child will also be given an activity monitor and instructed on the use and care of the device. The caregiver(s) will also review the morning and evening diaries to be completed throughout the study with a study team member.

Following the training session, the caregiver(s) and their child will complete the power down massage nightly, just prior to the time the child would start to try to fall asleep (e.g., after caregiver says "good night", when caregiver leaves the room), for two weeks. They will also complete a morning and evening diary entry, which will be sent virtually. At the end of the two weeks, the activity monitor will be returned to the study team. The participants will connect with the study team to complete an exit interview about their participation in the study and questionnaires about the treatment acceptability.

Conditions

Autism; Sleep Disturbance

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Power Down pilot arm

All participants will engage in a 2-week pilot intervention trial with baseline and post-intervention testing.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Power Down bedtime manipulation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Power Down is a bedtime manipulation protocol targeting elevated arousal level at bedtime due to a hypothesized effect of sensory over-responsivity (a common experience for autistic children). The Power Down incorporates sensory-based tools (gentle tactile pressure and auditory cues) to support nervous system regulation prior to attempting sleep onset. Participants (caregivers and their child) will be educated in the Power Down protocol and data collection methods for the 2 week intervention trial. Caregivers will lead a nightly gentle massage with guided relaxation script just prior to the child trying to fall asleep. The child will also wear a watch-like activity monitor (ActiGraph GT9x) for the 2 week period throughout the day and night to measure changes in sleep and activity patterns. Caregivers will complete daily diary questions in the morning and evening reporting their child's emotions and sleep timing.

Interventions

Power Down bedtime manipulation

The Power Down is a bedtime manipulation protocol targeting elevated arousal level at bedtime due to a hypothesized effect of sensory over-responsivity (a common experience for autistic children). The Power Down incorporates sensory-based tools (gentle tactile pressure and auditory cues) to support nervous system regulation prior to attempting sleep onset. Participants (caregivers and their child) will be educated in the Power Down protocol and data collection methods for the 2 week intervention trial. Caregivers will lead a nightly gentle massage with guided relaxation script just prior to the child trying to fall asleep. The child will also wear a watch-like activity monitor (ActiGraph GT9x) for the 2 week period throughout the day and night to measure changes in sleep and activity patterns. Caregivers will complete daily diary questions in the morning and evening reporting their child's emotions and sleep timing.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Child between the ages of 6 and 10 years old (at least 40%, no more than 60% female)

2. Parent-reported autism diagnosis for child

3. Parent-reported extended and problematic settling down delay

4. Parent-reported sensory over-responsivity (a "yes" to at least 8 items in the sensory screening section of the checklist)

5. Parent willing to participate in nightly routine during the 2 week study

6. Located within the Pittsburgh area

Exclusion Criteria

1. Participants will be excluded if they do not understand English or are unable to travel to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital.

2. Children who have trauma or other histories for whom physical touch is triggering (per caregiver report) will be excluded.

3. If a child spends bedtime at a different caregiver's home for >50% of the nights and that caregiver is not willing to participate in this study, the child will be excluded from this study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 10 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Pittsburgh

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Amy Hartman

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Amy G Hartman, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pittsburgh

Locations

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Amy G Hartman, PhD

Role: CONTACT

agh38@pitt.edu

412-648-7997

Adriane M Soehner, PhD

Role: CONTACT

soehneram2@upmc.edu

412-246-6690

Facility Contacts

Amy G Hartman, PhD

Role: primary

agh38@pitt.edu

412-648-7997

Other Identifiers

STUDY24010191

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id