The Impact of Melatonin Lotion on Sleep and Mental Health
The Impact of Melatonin Lotion on Actigraphy, Sleep Quality, Autonomic Nervous System Indicators, Mood, Anxiety Symptoms, and Side Effects
University of Redlands
60 participants
Feb 28, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of this study is to examine the effect that melatonin lotion has on sleep quality, the nervous system, and mental health. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the brain that regulates sleep and might improve depression and anxiety symptoms. The goal is to determine whether melatonin in lotion form is an effective treatment for young adults with inadequate sleep and might improve mental health. Participants will fill out surveys, wear an actigraph (a wrist-worn device that measures sleep), wear a heart rate monitor (a strap worn around one's chest), and provide nightly saliva samples during treatment weeks. In one of the two treatment weeks, participants will receive a lotion that contains melatonin. During the other week they will receive a control treatment that will be lotion with no melatonin, and there will be a week in between with no treatment at all.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- a T score ≥ 48 on the sleep disturbance short form Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measure, and
- a T score ≥ 55 on the anxiety or depression short form PROMIS measures (mild symptoms or more)
Exclusion Criteria4
- currently using antidepressant, anti-anxiety, or sleep medication including melatonin
- are pregnant
- have allergies/sensitivities to scented lotion
- are unwilling to commit to keeping a similar bedtime (± 1 hour) during treatment weeks.
Interventions
3 g lotion applied one hour before bedtime
3 g of placebo lotion (scent-matched control) applied one hour before bedtime
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT06768749