Qld, Vic and WA patients sought for clinical trial to prevent insomnia
Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth patients are being sought to take part in a trial for a new treatment for primary insomnia, a condition that causes sleep deprivation and affects approximately 250,000 Australians. An estimated 1.2 million Australians experience various sleep disorders, with costs of $10.3 billion in 2004.
Primary insomnia is a sleeplessness that is not caused by any known physical or mental condition. While there is no psychological profile to distinguish people who suffer from insomnia, it increases with age, is more common in women and is something that can go on for years and years.
The trial of the new insomnia treatment involves research centres in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. They are looking for people who suffer from ‘sleep maintenance’– those who have no problems initially getting to sleep but then wake up often during the night or wake up and find it difficult to go back to sleep. The trial is seeking to determine the long term safety, tolerance and efficacy of a new treatment in improving sleep time, as well as its effects on daytime function, ability to work and take part in society.
Anyone interested in participating should call 1800 038 298 for more information, and to see if they may be eligible.
People need to be aged over 18 and wake up for a total of at least one hour every night, after falling asleep. During the study patients will be asked to record a daily sleep diary. The trial will compare an unregistered, experimental drug to placebo (dummy pills).
