Interested in Participating?

CSTR Lab

What is the purpose of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Cancer Related Insomnia (BBT-CI) and Healthy Eating Education Learning (HEAL)?

The study is being done to answer the following question:

  • Which treatment, Brief Behavioral Therapy (BBT-CI) or Healthy Eating Education Learning (HEAL), works better to reduce insomnia?

We are conducting this study because we want to find out if one of these approaches is better or worse for managing insomnia in cancer patients.

Sleep problems such as insomnia, are common for cancer patients. Insomnia can be described as difficulty falling asleep, waking up many times during the night or waking up earlier than you would like. Insomnia can increase fatigue and worsen your quality of life.

For potential participants:

Who is eligible for Brief Behavioral Therapy for Cancer Related Insomnia (BBT-CI) and Healthy Eating Education Learning (HEAL)?

Inclusion Criteria

  • Male or Female
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be diagnosed with Cancer (stage I, II, III, or IV) with a life expectancy of at least 12 months
  • Be currently receiving any cancer treatment (surgery alone is excluded)
  • Report sleep disturbance of 3 or greater on the sleep disturbance question: “Rate your sleep disturbance in the past 2 weeks on a scale from 0-10, 0 is no problems and 10 is having the most severe problems”
  • Have a score of 2, 1, or 0 on the ECOG performance status scale
  • Be able to speak, understand and read English to participate in the study assessments and interventions

Exclusion Criteria

  • Have a clinical diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Restless Leg Syndrome (even if controlled)
  • Be engaged in a formal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia program presently or in the past 30 days. Use of sleep medications are allowed.

If you are interested in taking part in this research study, please contact our team at cancerwellness@vcuhealth.org or by calling (804) 628-8869. We look forward to speaking with you!