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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.

Contact Information:

Mr Charles Vicary
+44 (0)1865 61782
rested-trial@phc.ox.ac.uk


Dr Simon Kyle
+44 (0)1865 234829
simon.kyle@ndcn.ox.ac.uk


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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Can treating sleep problems improve depression? The RESTED Trial
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Can treating sleep problems improve depression? The RESTED Trial

Not Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Adult

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Medical Conditions

Mental health

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Depression is a very common and impairing condition. Current treatments include antidepressant medication and psychological therapy. Both can be effective, but more than one-third of people do not benefit from these treatments. There are reasons to think that poor sleep is an important contributor to depression and that if sleep could be improved, depression would improve too. Previous research has shown that we can improve sleep quality using a behavioural treatment called ‘sleep scheduling therapy’. This treatment involves reviewing the patient’s current sleep pattern and supporting them to follow a new, personalised sleep schedule. The research team want to find out whether using this treatment to improve sleep will also improve depression and how it works.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

01 May 2023 30 Nov 2024

People interested in taking part in this study will first be asked to complete a questionnaire (either online, over the phone or in paper format, which will take around 15 minutes) to determine whether the study is suitable for them. The questionnaire will ask about their sleep and depression as well as their general health.
Once the questionnaire is completed, a member of the study team will arrange a brief interview with them to check that they meet the eligibility criteria and to determine if the study is suitable for them.

If a person decides to take part in this study and is considered eligible after completing the questionnaire and interview, they will be invited to meet with one of the researchers. At this visit, the researcher will:
1. Ask for consent to be given to take part in the study
2. Ask the participant to complete some questionnaires about other health, daytime functioning, sleep pattern and mood.
3. The researcher will also ask them to complete some tasks on a computer. The tasks will ask them to judge different facial expressions and words presented on the screen.
4. The researcher will provide a sleep diary and an actigraphy watch (a wearable device that monitors movement and light exposure) and explain how to use them.

After 7 days of wearing the acti-watch and completing the sleep diary, participants will be randomly assigned by a computer to either Group 1 or Group 2. This is done randomly because this is the best way to do a fair comparison of the two groups. The team will randomise 115 patients to Group 1 and 135 patients to Group 2.
Group 1 - will continue to receive any treatments and support from their general practitioner (or other local services). That is, there will be no additional treatment provided by the study.
Group 2 – will also continue to receive any treatments and support from their general practitioner, but in addition, will also receive a behavioural sleep intervention from a nurse. This will involve meeting with the nurse over 6 weekly sessions, where you will be supported to follow a new personalised sleep schedule to improve sleep.

Participation in the study will last for 6 months and follow-up assessments will take place at 1, 2, and 6 months, irrespective of which group (1 or 2) the person is allocated to.

The research team will provide either an email or pack in the post at 1, 2 and 6 months after the first visit asking participants to:
1. Complete a questionnaire – this can be done either electronically, over the phone with one of our researchers, or in paper form. This is expected to take approximately 5-10 minutes at 1 month and 45 minutes at 2 and 6 months to complete.
2. Complete computerised tasks (at 2 and 6 months only).
3. Wear the acti-watch for 7 days (at 2 and 6 months only).
4. Keep a sleep and activity diary for 7 days (at 2 and 6 months only).
5. Send back the acti-watch and diary in a pre-paid envelope or drop them off at your GP practice (at 2 and 6 months only).


Adult patients registered at a GP practice that is taking part in the study can take part if they experience depression and frequent difficulty with falling asleep and/or waking up during the night (insomnia).

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Female participant who is pregnant or planning pregnancy during the trial2. Additional sleep disorder diagnosis OR “positive” on screening.3. Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)4. Alcohol or substance-use dependent5. Epilepsy6. Psychosis (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)7. Currently or recently received in-patient psychiatric treatment within the past 2 months8. Current suicidal ideation with intent OR attempted suicide within the past 2 months9. Currently receiving cancer treatment OR planned major surgery during the treatment phase10. Night, evening, early morning or rotating shift-work11. Currently receiving psychological treatment for insomnia from a health professional or taking part in an online treatment programme for insomnia12. Previously received sleep restriction therapy from a health professional13. Life expectancy of < 1 year14. Another person in the household already participates in this trial 15. Currently taking part in another clinical trial which could affect outcomes in RESTED 16. Recruiting clinician deems not suitable for the trial


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

Participants may benefit from improved sleep and mood by taking part in this study. They will also contribute to research, which may help develop better treatments for people experiencing depression and poor sleep. We do not anticipate that there are any risks in taking part. However, involvement in the study will involve answering questions about sensitive and potentially upsetting topics. If participants do not feel comfortable answering such questions, the team will discourage them from participating in the study or taking part in the online eligibility questionnaire. There are no known serious side effects from taking part in this study; however, a change to your sleep pattern may be associated with a short-term increase in sleepiness. If you do feel sleepy during the study, we advise that you avoid activities that require a high degree of vigilance, such as driving or operating heavy machinery.

Mr Charles Vicary
+44 (0)1865 61782
rested-trial@phc.ox.ac.uk


Dr Simon Kyle
+44 (0)1865 234829
simon.kyle@ndcn.ox.ac.uk



The study is sponsored by University of Oxford and funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research.



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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN73764282

Or CPMS 54735

Last updated 15 April 2025

This page is to help you find out about a research study and if you may be able to take part

You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.   

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