Skip to main content
Clinical Trials/NCT07076342
NCT07076342RecruitingPhase 4

Mechanistic Clinical Trial Evaluating the Role of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Subtype 5 (mGluR5) in the Antidepressant Mechanism of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Stony Brook University1 site in 1 country42 target enrollmentStarted: August 1, 2025Last updated:
Interventions
Drugs

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Phase 4
Status
Recruiting
Enrollment
42
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Change in Sleep Latency from Baseline to 8 Weeks

Study Overview

Brief Summary

This is mechanistic clinical trial that evaluates the role of one of the glutamate receptors (mGluR5) in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as a common pathway in improving sleep and depression.

Detailed Description

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a treatment solely aimed at improving sleep, reduces depression with rates similar to conventional antidepressants. Although this efficacy reflects the interrelationship between sleep and depression, CBT-I's antidepressant mechanism of action is currently unknown. One potential mechanistic pathway is through the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5), due to its strong association with both depression and sleep. The investigators hypothesize that CBT-I's antidepressant efficacy may occur through the downregulation of mGluR5 associated with improved sleep. This study is a mechanistic clinical trial in a cohort of adults with MDD and a range of sleep latencies (time it takes to fall asleep). Prior to and following CBT-I, the investigators will quantify hippocampal mGluR5 density (with using positron emission tomography [PET] imaging) and sleep latency (with polysomnography performed in the Sleep Lab). CBT-I will be delivered through an online program, Sleep Healthy Using The Internet (SHUTi).

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Na
Intervention Model
Single Group
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • capacity to provide informed consent,
  • at least 18 years of age
  • good physical health and absence of significant medical conditions,
  • diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) with current major depressive episode as per DSM-5 criteria
  • Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score > 29 (at least moderate depression),
  • uniform range of sleep latencies up to 128 minutes.

Exclusion Criteria

  • currently taking effective antidepressants,
  • lifetime history of psychosis,
  • drug or alcohol dependence in the last 6 months or abuse in the last 2 months
  • unstable medical condition (i.e., condition not adequately stabilized for ≥ 3 months)
  • nicotine use within 1 year
  • currently on medication known to affect glutamate,
  • sleep disorders, other than insomnia, such as sleep apnea,
  • recent (within 1 year) regular night shift work (or rotating shift work) or recent (within 3 months) travel across more than one time zone, or plans for this work or travel during the study period,
  • use of medication or substances that affect sleep, for example, ingestion of more > 600 mg of caffeine per day,
  • PET or MRI contraindications, including pregnancy or currently breastfeeding

Arms & Interventions

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Treatment Arm

Experimental

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) will be delivered through an online program, Sleep Healthy Using The Internet (SHUTi).

Intervention: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (Behavioral)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Treatment Arm

Experimental

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) will be delivered through an online program, Sleep Healthy Using The Internet (SHUTi).

Intervention: PET Scan with [11C]ABP688 (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Sleep Latency from Baseline to 8 Weeks

Time Frame: Baseline and 8 Weeks

Polysomnography: Prior to and following CBT-I, participants will spend one or two nights in the facility's Sleep Lab in order to assess sleep latency (i.e., quantity of sleep). While the participant sleeps, polysomnography, including EEG will be collected. This will be used to quantify sleep latency.

Change from Baseline of mGluR5 density in the hippocampus after 8 weeks of CBT-I Treatment

Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

PET Imaging: Prior to and following CBT-I, participants will receive PET imaging to allow measurement of change in mGluR5 (a protein receptor in the brain) density in the hippocampus.

Secondary Outcomes

No secondary outcomes reported

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Christine DeLorenzo

Professor of Psychiatry & Biomedical Engineering, Director (CUBIT)

Stony Brook University

Study Sites (1)

Loading locations...

Similar Trials