Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia and Bright Light Therapy in Adolescents With ADHD, Insomnia, and Evening Chronotype

Sponsor
The University of Hong Kong
Study ID
NCT07767617
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
10 Years - 24 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • CBT-I with Bright Light Group — BEHAVIORAL
    Refer to the arm description
  • CBT-I with Placebo Light Group — BEHAVIORAL
    Refer to the arm description

Study Details

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In adolescents and young people, ADHD is commonly accompanied by insomnia and circadian delay. These co-occurring sleep and circadian disturbances may negatively affect daytime functioning and overall clinical outcomes. Although cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the first-line treatment for insomnia, and bright light therapy may help address circadian issues, their efficacy in adolescents with ADHD and comorbid insomnia and eveningness remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate whether CBT-I, with or without bright light therapy, improves insomnia, sleep, and circadian as well as other clinical outcomes, and cognitive functioning in youths with ADHD and whether these interventions can also lead to improvements in mood and other clinical symptoms, as well as cognitive functioning.

Key Dates

First listed
Aug 17, 2026
Start date
Aug 10, 2026
Status verified
Aug 2026
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2029
Completion
Aug 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
150 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: CBT-I with Bright Light Therapy
    The intervention for the CBT-I plus bright light therapy group will involve six weekly 90-minute group-based, face-to-face sessions of CBT-I, together with daily home-based morning bright light therapy starting from week 2. The CBT-I components are designed to address the behavioural, cognitive, and physiological factors that perpetuate insomnia while taking into account the sleep and circadian features of adolescents with ADHD, and include psychoeducation about sleep, circadian rhythm, and sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation training, structured worry time, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. Bright light therapy will be administered at home using a portable light device for 30 minutes each morning, with timing individually determined and adjusted according to weekly sleep diary data.
  • Experimental: CBT-I with Placebo Light Therapy
    The intervention for the CBT-I plus placebo light therapy group will involve six weekly 90-minute group-based, face-to-face sessions of CBT-I delivered, together with daily home-based morning placebo light therapy starting from week 2. The CBT-I components are designed to address the behavioural, cognitive, and physiological factors that perpetuate insomnia while taking into account the sleep and circadian features of adolescents with ADHD and include psychoeducation about sleep, circadian rhythm, and sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation training, structured worry time, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. Placebo light therapy will be administered at home using a portable placebo light device for 30 minutes each morning, with timing individually determined and adjusted according to weekly sleep diary data.
  • No Intervention: Waitlist control
    Participants in the waiting-list control group will not receive any active intervention during the study period but will complete the same set of assessments as the intervention groups at baseline and at post-waiting. This group will serve as a comparator for evaluating changes in outcomes over time. Participants will continue with their usual care and clinical follow-up as appropriate during the waiting period.

Primary Outcome Measure

Changes in insomnia severity [ Time Frame: Baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), one-week post-treatment, 1-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up ]

Central Contacts

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