WithdrawnNot Applicable

Pilot Study: Investigating Mood Changes After Slow-wave Enhancement

Stopped: Equipment for slow wave enhancement is no longer available

0Started 2025-01-01

Plain-language summary

The aim of this pilot project proposal is to test the hypothesis that decreased sleep slow-wave activity (SWA) observed in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) is related to mood dysfunction, and that manipulating SWA may serve to improve mood by normalizing SWA regulation. The investigators propose to enhance SWA during nighttime sleep in a group of 20 antidepressant-free males and females age 25-50 with varying degrees of impairment in mood. Each participant will undergo one baseline night of sleep in the laboratory and then will sleep with the SmartSleep Headband nightly for two weeks in their own home. For one week, slow-wave sleep will be enhanced. On the alternate week, sleep will not be changed. Following the two weeks of sleeping with the device, participants will then spend another night in the sleep laboratory to assess changes in sleep. Mood will be assessed by self-report and clinician-administered scales following the baseline night of sleep, virtually after the first experimental week, and at the conclusion of the study.

Who can participate

Age range

25 Years – 50 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Age 25-50 years.
. Primary language is English.
. Normal cognition.
. Normal (or corrected-to-normal) vision and hearing.
. Current depression.
. Stable, normally-timed sleep-wake cycle as determined by interview, 1-week daily sleep log, and 1-week wrist actigraphic evidence, and defined by:
. Habitual nocturnal sleep duration between 6h and 9h.
. Habitual bedtime between 9pm-12am.

Exclusion criteria

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change from baseline in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms

Timeframe: daily, up to 14 days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05146427

SponsorUniversity of Pennsylvania

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-06-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Depressive Disorder, Major trials