The Power Down Pilot Study: A Novel Bedtime Manipulation Protocol
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Autism, Sleep Disturbance
In brief
The goal of this pilot intervention study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel bedtime manipulation protocol called "The Power Down" for autistic youth, ages 6-10. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the Power Down feasible for caregivers to do each night? 2. Do the families find the Power Down an acceptable intervention to address their child's difficulties settling down to fall asleep?
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT06386029
- Run by
- University of Pittsburgh
- People needed
- 10
- Starts
- 2025-07-05
- Expected to finish
- 2026-12-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-08-12
Who can join
Age: 6 and older, up to 10. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Child between the ages of 6 and 10 years old (at least 40%, no more than 60% female)
- Parent-reported autism diagnosis for child
- Parent-reported extended and problematic settling down delay
- Parent-reported sensory over-responsivity (a "yes" to at least 8 items in the sensory screening section of the checklist)
- Parent willing to participate in nightly routine during the 2 week study
- Located within the Pittsburgh area
You may not qualify if…
- Participants will be excluded if they do not understand English or are unable to travel to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital.
- Children who have trauma or other histories for whom physical touch is triggering (per caregiver report) will be excluded.
- If a child spends bedtime at a different caregiver's home for >50% of the nights and that caregiver is not willing to participate in this study, the child will be excluded from this study.
Where it is running
- University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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