Talking sleep away: can CBT-I cure chronic insomnia without pills?
NCT ID NCT07730593
First seen Jul 28, 2026 · Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can improve sleep in Chinese adults with chronic insomnia. CBT-I is a non-drug approach that combines techniques like stimulus control, sleep restriction, and relaxation therapy. The study measures changes in sleep quality using overnight sleep recordings and questionnaires. It also explores how Chinese cultural traditions may influence the therapy's effectiveness.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a structured program combining stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation, cognitive therapy, and sleep hygiene education
- What this could lead to
- If effective, CBT-I could offer a drug-free, culturally adapted treatment option for chronic insomnia in China.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 19 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Cultural factors could affect how well CBT-I works in this setting.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
19 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jul 2018
- Finished
-
Dec 2019
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
37 to 76 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * were diagnosed as chronic insomnia based on the third edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders(ICSD-3) ; * agree to participate in this study and sign informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9)\> 15 points; * hallucinations or taking antipsychotic medication at the time of evaluation; * Insomnia due to drug side effects, other illnesses or co-morbidities; * dementia according to 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; * severe physical illness or severe abnormalities in heart, liver, kidney and thyroid function.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Cbti insomnia are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Peking University People's Hospital
Beijing, China