Sleep therapy shows promise for gulf war veterans' symptoms

NCT ID NCT05137743

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested a six-session behavioral sleep program, called Apnea and Insomnia Relief (AIR), in 118 Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Illness. The program combined sleep education, motivation for using a breathing machine, and insomnia therapy, all done via telehealth. Researchers measured changes in symptom severity and sleep quality to see if the program could ease the condition.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: behavioral sleep therapy (Apnea and Insomnia Relief program)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a practical, non-drug way to reduce sleep problems and other Gulf War Illness symptoms in veterans.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study with no control group comparison, so results may not be definitive. The treatment requires commitment to six telehealth sessions and may not help everyone.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

insomnia obstructive sleep apnea syndrome persian gulf syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

GULF WAR ILLNESS

Contacts and locations

Locations

VA Health Care System

San Francisco, California, 94121, United States

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