UA Psychology Department Researchers Seek Volunteers for Sleeping Pill Withdrawal Study

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – People with insomnia who depend on prescription sleeping pills and who still have difficulty sleeping may be eligible to receive a sleep disorders evaluation and insomnia treatment by participating in a research study conducted by The University of Alabama department of psychology and funded by the National Institutes of Health/ National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The study involves two sites in Alabama — Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. In Tuscaloosa, the treatments are offered at the DCH Medical Center Sleep Lab. In Birmingham, treatments are offered at the Sleep Disorders Center of Alabama.

About 30 percent of adults experience some type of insomnia. People with insomnia may have trouble falling asleep at bedtime or trouble with lying awake during the night, or a combination of these problems. The study evaluates several treatments for insomnia, and it provides treatment and closely supervised sleeping pill withdrawal for people with any of these insomnia problems.

No sleep medication is provided. All who qualify for this research will receive an individualized program for withdrawal from sleep medication after receiving a thorough screening for sleep disorders at no charge.

In addition, volunteers who complete the study will be paid $300 for participating. The treatments are provided at no cost to participants.

The goal of the treatment is to help the person with insomnia fall asleep more quickly at bedtime and help the person avoid long awakenings during the night. The treatments used in this research study are designed so that persons with insomnia can learn to manage their sleep difficulty and gain control of their sleep-wake pattern.

Individuals may be eligible to participate if they are age 21-65, frequently take prescription medication for trouble sleeping, continue to have trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep at night or both, and have sleep problems at least three nights per week.

Call toll free 1-877-210-9723 for more information about the research study.