# Sleep disturbance, inhibition, and stress: A transdiagnostic approach to OCD

> **NIH NIH F31** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $26,598

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite the growing concern about poor sleep health in the US and high rates of comorbidity between sleep
disturbance and mental illness, limited attention has been given to how the downstream effects of sleep
disturbance may contribute to psychopathology. Given recent recognition of sleep disturbance as a potential
transdiagnostic factor and links between sleep disturbance and OCD, it is critical to examine how the negative
effects of sleep loss, such as decreased inhibition and increased stress, may contribute to and maintain OCD,
as these processes may be novel targets for intervention.
 Aim I will examine whether acute sleep restriction causes decreased inhibition and increased OC
symptoms in healthy sleepers. Aim II will examine whether those with OCD exhibit increased sleep disturbance
and decreased inhibition compared to healthy controls and whether inhibition mediates the relationship
between sleep disturbance and OC symptoms. Aim III will examine whether stress (including daily stressors
and stress reactivity) amplify the negative effects of sleep disturbance.
 Consistent with the RDoC research framework, the proposed studies will utilize multiple levels of
analysis, including self-report, objective sleep assessment, and behavioral tasks, and combine both
experimental and correlational methods to examine sleep disturbance as a causal factor in OCD and the roles
of inhibition and stress. The ultimate goal for this proposal is to integrate diverse lines of research across
subfields into a unified model to identify transdiagnostic mechanisms that contribute to and maintain
psychopathology. Specific training goals include developing expertise in the psychobiological assessment of
sleep, inhibition, stress, and OCD, as well as training in quantitative methods to analyze variables relevant to
psychopathology over time. The skills developed in integrating methods and theory from multiple subfields and
utilizing multi-method approaches to assess transdiagnostic variables that contribute to and maintain
psychopathology will provide a foundation for a successful career as a clinical psychological scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9845651
- **Project number:** 5F31MH113271-03
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca C Cox
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $26,598
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2020-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9845651

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9845651, Sleep disturbance, inhibition, and stress: A transdiagnostic approach to OCD (5F31MH113271-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9845651. Licensed CC0.

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