Evaluation Of A Rapid Behavioural Treatment For Sleep Onset Insomnia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$268,500.00
Summary
Chronic insomnia is a prevalent health problem that affects 5-10% of the population. It is associated with significant physical and mental health problems as well as lowered quality of life. By far the most common treatment for insomnia continues to be sleeping tablets despite the problems of drug dependence, daytime impairment and long term loss of effect. It is also despite the evidence that behavioural therapies are more effective in the long term. In clinical experiments stimulus control the ....Chronic insomnia is a prevalent health problem that affects 5-10% of the population. It is associated with significant physical and mental health problems as well as lowered quality of life. By far the most common treatment for insomnia continues to be sleeping tablets despite the problems of drug dependence, daytime impairment and long term loss of effect. It is also despite the evidence that behavioural therapies are more effective in the long term. In clinical experiments stimulus control therapy (SCT) is consistently the most effective of the behavioural therapies. However, SCT is difficult to carry out over the 4-6 week period necessary for effective treatment. If the treatment process could be shortened, it may increase the number of successful treatments. We have developed a laboratory procedure which includes the effective elements of SCT. These elements include sleep restriction and the experience of one rapid sleep onset each night. Our procedure involves some sleep deprivation and the experience of many (over 40) rapid sleep onsets over just one day. Therefore, it condenses 40 nights of the re-training benefits of SCT into just one day. A preliminary study has shown this procedure to be as effective as normal SCT. However, with no follow-up therapy to the procedure the initial gains tended to diminish with time. Our proposal is to test and extend the possible benefits of this new treatment procedure. We will compare it with the standard SCT as well as combine it with SCT. We feel that the greatest benefit may be to use the laboratory procedure as a kick start to SCT, which will by-pass the most difficult first 2--3 weeks of SCT. This will greatly reduce the time as well as absolutely improve the outcome. In further studies the laboratory procedure may be transferred to the patient s home, thereby further increasing its effectiveness. We feel the proposal will lead to a significant improvement in the non-drug treatment of insomnia.Read moreRead less
The Effect Of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea And Its Treatment On Exercise Capacity On Obese Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$60,787.00
Summary
The aim of the study is to explore the effect of sleep apnoea and its treatment on obese children aged between 7 - 13 years. The project will study the effect of sleep apnoea and its recommended treatment on: 1. lung and cardiovascular function 2. blood markers (including cholesterol and insulin), and 3. quality of life in obese children. It is hoped this study will show treatment reverses any negative outcomes caused by sleep apnoea in obese children.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Effect Of Substantial Weight Loss On Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,061.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea is now commonly recognized as a major health problem and frequently ocurrs in overweight or obese individuals. Several studies have now demonstrated that weight loss can be an effective treatment for sleep apnea in those with a weight problem. But, it is extremely difficult to achieve and sustain the major weight loss required to adequately treat this condition. Modern obesity surgery is the only reliable method of achieving and sustaining major weight loss in very obese ....Obstructive sleep apnea is now commonly recognized as a major health problem and frequently ocurrs in overweight or obese individuals. Several studies have now demonstrated that weight loss can be an effective treatment for sleep apnea in those with a weight problem. But, it is extremely difficult to achieve and sustain the major weight loss required to adequately treat this condition. Modern obesity surgery is the only reliable method of achieving and sustaining major weight loss in very obese individuals, and several studies have found that along with weight loss there are major improvements in sleep symptoms, and sleep apnea following weight loss surgery. Despite these findings surgery is rarely advised and has never been formally tested as a therapy for sleep apnea. We propose to formally test, for the first time, the effectiveness of weight loss surgery, as an addition to best conventional therapy, in those individuals with the combination of problems; obesity and significant sleep apnea. We propose that significant weight loss, following surgery, may indeed be the best therapy for those with these combined problems, and that weight loss may have additional benefits for other common problems related to obesity, including high blood pressure, poor body image and impaired quality of life. Forty appropriate patients who suffer these combined problems will be randomly allocated to either conventional therapy for their sleep apnea and weight problems or to a similar program that includes placement of a Lap-Band, a minimially invasive form of obesity surgery. We will follow the patients for 2-years and serially measure a broad range of health and quality of life outcomes and compare the effects of each program. This study will help us assess the role of obesity surgery in this group of patients with major health problems.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Sleep Disturbance On Daytime Functioning, Mood And Quality Of Life In Children And Adolescents With Cystic Fibrosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$62,146.00
Summary
Cystic fibrosis(CF) is the most common inherited chronic disease affecting Australian children. In adults with CF sleep complaints are common and associated with depression and reduced quality of life(QOL). There is a paucity of international data however regarding sleep in children with CF and assessment of paediatric sleep problems in CF is not routine. The aim of this study is to determine sleep patterns in children with CF and to examine the relationship between sleep quality, QOL and mood.
Diet Exercise And ARmodafinil For Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Patients Who Cannot Use Standard Treatments. (DEAR)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,313.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects over 3.5 million Australians and is associated with marked daytime sleepiness and decreased concentration. It is also a common health complication of obesity. Many people are unable to use standard treatments for OSA in the form of a mouth splint or mask worn at night. This study will look at treating the daytime sleepiness with a stimulant medication, Armodafinil, whilst reducing OSA severity gradually with diet and lifestyle modification.
Recognition And Management Of Sleep Apnea In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,866.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA, ie frequent choking episodes during sleep, associated oxygen deprivation and sleep disturbance) affects at least 4% of the adult population and leads to serious health problems if untreated. These health problems include excessive tiredness, fall-asleep accidents, and premature stroke and heart attacks. Currently patients suspected of OSA are referred for management to specialist sleep centres, where sleep specialists order overnight laboratory tests to confirm the ....Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA, ie frequent choking episodes during sleep, associated oxygen deprivation and sleep disturbance) affects at least 4% of the adult population and leads to serious health problems if untreated. These health problems include excessive tiredness, fall-asleep accidents, and premature stroke and heart attacks. Currently patients suspected of OSA are referred for management to specialist sleep centres, where sleep specialists order overnight laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis and test the effects of treatment (CPAP via a nasal mask) and thereafter direct management. These centres are not coping with current demand because of too few specialists and too few testing facilities. But worse than this up to 85% of cases in the community are not being identified. Many patients with OSA attend general practitioners for sometimes related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity, but are unrecognised for having a serious sleep disorder. This study will develop new and simplified methods of home diagnosis of OSA suitable for general practice. It will then use these methods to identify patients in general practice with moderate to severe OSA who will then enter a study that compares the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of two models of care where the principle treatment will be CPAP: One is a new model which will be based in patients homes and general practice surgeries, the other, will be current standard care in our specialist sleep centre. We postulate that general practice based care will be as effective for patients as specialist sleep centre care but will be less costly. If this proves to be the case the study results will open the possibility for easier access to care for a larger number of patients with moderate to severe OSA, which will result in significant health benefits for the community.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Yoga For Improving Sleep And Quality Of Life In An Elderly Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,377.00
Summary
Insomnia is very common in the elderly and is associated with increased morbidity and reduced quality of life. Yoga is purported to assist with sleep and stress management but there is little rigorous research to confirm this and no research to determine if yoga can be adapted to an elderly population in Australia. This study aims to rigourously examine the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention for geriatric insomnia and to determine the ability of yoga to enhance quality of life.