# A Sleep Promotion Program for Depressed Adolescents in Pediatric Primary Care

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $238,500

## Abstract

Abstract
Adolescent depression is highly prevalent, impairing, costly, and associated with risk of suicide. Though universal
screening for adolescent depression is recommended in pediatric primary care, primary care providers report
limited time and few resources to manage mental health concerns in that setting. Short sleep duration and sleep-
wake irregularity are consistently and significantly associated with adolescent depression and are considered
key mechanisms of disease; thus, these sleep parameters are critical intervention targets for depressed youth.
Efficacious behavioral strategies for disturbed adolescent sleep and daily rhythms lead to improved sleep and
depression. However, little work has translated what is efficacious in a research environment for use in pediatric
primary care, even though integrated behavioral health in primary care is rapidly expanding and associated with
improved patient outcomes. We developed a brief, scalable, behavioral Sleep Promotion Program (SPP) for
adolescents with short sleep duration and sleep-wake irregularity, which relies on one individual session and
smartphone technology to deliver evidence-based strategies. In response to PAR-21-131, in this R34 we
propose 1) translating SPP for implementation in pediatric primary care, including optimizing the smartphone
features for depressed adolescents and 2) developing feasible and acceptable provider training. After refining
our procedures through an open trial, we will 3) test the feasibility and 4) initial effectiveness of the SPP program
and provider training via pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT); and 5) identify factors that facilitate and impede
implementation. We will first conduct interviews with depressed adolescents and staff/providers who work in
pediatric primary care (n=12 each group). Interviews will focus on barriers to implementation in primary care;
developing feasible and acceptable provider training; and enhancing engagement in SPP smartphone
technology components among depressed youth. We will conduct an open trial (n=8) to iteratively refine provider
training, implementation procedures, and SPP program, per participant and staff feedback. We will then conduct
a pilot RCT (n=50) comparing SPP to Sleep Psychoeducation, a brief session on healthy sleep habits.
Participants will be adolescents (12-18 years) with short sleep duration, sleep-wake irregularity, and depression;
these features will also serve as primary outcomes assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-
up. We will measure changes in provider sleep knowledge and capacity to deliver SPP. We hypothesize SPP
program and provider training procedures will be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate. We hypothesize greater
improvements in sleep duration, sleep-wake regularity and depressive symptoms among youth receiving SPP.
Provider sleep knowledge will significantly improve and treatment integrity will be reached. Feedback from youth
and providers involved in ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10834254
- **Project number:** 5R34MH132724-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Jessica C Levenson
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $238,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10834254

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10834254, A Sleep Promotion Program for Depressed Adolescents in Pediatric Primary Care (5R34MH132724-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10834254. Licensed CC0.

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