Mindfulness Meditation for Insomnia

NCT ID: NCT06972303

Last Updated: 2025-12-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-31

Study Completion Date

2028-12-29

Brief Summary

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The investigators will conduct a 3-arm, pilot RCT where participants (N=30) will be randomized in a 1:1:1 design to 4 weeks of instructed bedtime MM practice at night (n=10) vs. uninstructed MM (n=10) vs. sleep hygiene education only (n=10). Aim 1 is to understand the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. Aim 2 is to explore patterns of within-group changes in sleep outcomes (i.e., insomnia severity and sleep quality). Patient-reported outcomes will be collected using a HIPAA-compliant electronic data management system (REDCap). Following informed consent, participants will receive links to REDCap surveys via email at Weeks 0, 4, 8, and 16. The investigators will also conduct a post-intervention interview at the end of Week 4 and an exit interview at Week 16. All participants will also receive a research kit with wearable devices and meet with our staff after they receive the kit for instructions. Data collected in the pilot RCT will help us to preliminarily identify tools for subjective measures and physiological signals to inform a future trial.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Insomnia Insomnia Chronic Mindfulness Telemedicine

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Instructed bedtime app-guided mindfulness meditation

Participants will utilize the specific sleep program available within the app, which will include a choice of audio soundtracks for guided MM (no exposure to screen lights during practice). The practice may involve techniques such as breathing exercise, imagery, body scan, and relaxation. Participants will specifically use the app during the immediate pre-sleep period. They can choose their preferred meditation sessions within the Sleep menu in Week 1-4.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Instructed bedtime app-guided mindfulness meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

All participants will access the a smartphone app, and the mindfulness meditation practice may involve techniques such as breathing exercise, imagery, body scan, and relaxation. The investigators will provide instructions for participants who are assigned to practice at bedtime.

Sleep hygiene education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sleep hygiene education will be based on recognized, general, non-personalized sleep hygiene advice, for example, recommendations about bedtime routines and use of alcohol and caffeine, tips on creating a sleep-conducive bedroom environment.

Uninstructed app-guided mindfulness meditation

Participants will be asked to practice MM using the same app during daytime (prior to the evening meal), but without specific study instructions around components to access or specific time of practice.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Uninstructed app-guided mindfulness meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The guided mindfulness meditation practice will also be based on the same app. The investigators will not provide instructions for participants, and they have complete freedom to use the app as real-world users.

Sleep hygiene education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sleep hygiene education will be based on recognized, general, non-personalized sleep hygiene advice, for example, recommendations about bedtime routines and use of alcohol and caffeine, tips on creating a sleep-conducive bedroom environment.

Sleep Hygiene Education only

Participants will receive sleep hygiene education and asked not to start any new insomnia treatments. Sleep hygiene education serves as a minimal intervention control condition and real-world comparator. At the end of the study, interested participants in the control group will be given equal access to the mobile app. Usual care for insomnia typically involves sleep hygiene education, so all three groups will receive standard SHE as part of usual care.

Group Type OTHER

Sleep hygiene education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sleep hygiene education will be based on recognized, general, non-personalized sleep hygiene advice, for example, recommendations about bedtime routines and use of alcohol and caffeine, tips on creating a sleep-conducive bedroom environment.

Interventions

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Instructed bedtime app-guided mindfulness meditation

All participants will access the a smartphone app, and the mindfulness meditation practice may involve techniques such as breathing exercise, imagery, body scan, and relaxation. The investigators will provide instructions for participants who are assigned to practice at bedtime.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Uninstructed app-guided mindfulness meditation

The guided mindfulness meditation practice will also be based on the same app. The investigators will not provide instructions for participants, and they have complete freedom to use the app as real-world users.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sleep hygiene education

Sleep hygiene education will be based on recognized, general, non-personalized sleep hygiene advice, for example, recommendations about bedtime routines and use of alcohol and caffeine, tips on creating a sleep-conducive bedroom environment.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Uninstructed bedtime app-guided mindfulness meditation Sleep hygiene education

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18 years and older;
* Chronic insomnia (≥ 3 nights/week, for ≥ 3 months), defined by DSM-V or ICSD-3;
* Have a primary complaint of difficulty falling asleep (sleep-onset insomnia) with self-reported sleep onset latency \>20 min;
* Insomnia Severity Index score ≥ 15;
* Speak and understand English;
* Have a smart device (phone or tablet) for mobile app installation

Exclusion Criteria

* Current diagnosis of sleep disorders other than insomnia (e.g., narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, REM sleep behavior disorder, etc.);
* Shift worker or routine night shifts;
* Women with pregnancy or breastfeeding;
* Regular (defined as twice a week or more) practice of mind-body interventions;
* Patients with pace-maker or routinely using cardiovascular medications that have effects on heart rates (i.e., beta-blockers);
* Neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, dementia, stroke, Parkinson's disease, neuroinfections, brain tumors, etc.) or current diagnosis of comorbid psychotic, substance use, and trauma-related disorders;
* Currently under medications with sleep changing effects (e.g., anxiolytics/benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, hypnotics, etc.);
* Hearing impairment or loss. Participants will be asked to report any medication for at least 2 weeks prior to study onset and during the study period.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Brigham and Women's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Yan Ma, MD, MPH

Instructor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Yan Ma

Role: CONTACT

(617) 732-8544

Facility Contacts

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Yan Ma

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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1K23AT012475

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

2025P001314

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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