RECRUITING

Improving Sleep in Veterans With the Polytrauma Clinical Triad

Description

The "polytrauma clinical triad" (PCT), a highly disabling constellation of factors, is defined by the coexistence of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. Veterans with the PCT are medically complex, often refractory to conventional therapies, and suffer from additional related chronic sequela. Notably, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, which the investigators hypothesize are significant contributing factors to these functional impairments and an impediment toward rehabilitation. Thus, the investigators' research aims to intervene "at the level of sleep", and by improving sleep, improve these interconnected, disabling, and difficult to treat enduring complexities associated with the PCT - ultimately to improve Veteran quality of life, functional independence, and restorative function. The investigators predict that the proposed intervention, morning bright light therapy, which is cost-effective, rapidly deployable and home-based, will be effective in improving sleep and overall PCT symptom management, thereby, resulting in a measurable and impactful improvement in quality of life.

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The "polytrauma clinical triad" (PCT), a highly disabling constellation of factors, is defined by the coexistence of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. Veterans with the PCT are medically complex, often refractory to conventional therapies, and suffer from additional related chronic sequela. Notably, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, which the investigators hypothesize are significant contributing factors to these functional impairments and an impediment toward rehabilitation. Thus, the investigators' research aims to intervene "at the level of sleep", and by improving sleep, improve these interconnected, disabling, and difficult to treat enduring complexities associated with the PCT - ultimately to improve Veteran quality of life, functional independence, and restorative function. The investigators predict that the proposed intervention, morning bright light therapy, which is cost-effective, rapidly deployable and home-based, will be effective in improving sleep and overall PCT symptom management, thereby, resulting in a measurable and impactful improvement in quality of life.

A Sleep Intervention to Improve Quality of Life and Symptom Management in Veterans With the Polytrauma Clinical Triad

Improving Sleep in Veterans With the Polytrauma Clinical Triad

Condition
Traumatic Brain Injury
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Portland

VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, Portland, Oregon, United States, 97207-2964

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Veteran
  • * English speaking with phone and internet access
  • * Current self-reported sleep disturbances
  • * Clinical stable for current pharmacologic or behavioral health treatments for depression, anxiety, sleep and pain
  • * Documented history of TBI
  • * Decisional impairment and/or dementia
  • * Current usage of a lightbox or negative ion generator
  • * Shift work
  • * History of macular degeneration and/or bipolar disorder
  • * Evidence for suicidal ideation
  • * Cancer diagnosis within the past 6 months
  • * Surgery within the past 6 months
  • * Substance abuse within the past 6-12 months
  • * Significant impairing post-stroke residual hemiparesis

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 89 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Jonathan E Elliott, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR

Study Record Dates

2028-09-29