Yoga Nidra for Insomnia and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
Yoga Nidra Meditation for Insomnia and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Randomized-Controlled Feasibility Study
University College, London
60 participants
Mar 3, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This randomized feasibility study is designed to investigate the feasibility of recruitment and delivery of two variations (brief; full) of a virtual Integrative Restoration (iRest) yoga nidra meditation intervention in stressor- or trauma-exposed participants with insomnia and posttraumatic stress symptoms, compared to a waitlist control group. Feasibility will also be examined for data collection (daily sleep diaries and PTSD symptom surveys) and at-home polysomnography (PSG) study completion prior to and following the intervention. Feasibility measures will include study retention and-for the two yoga nidra groups-adherence to study protocol, and acceptability of the intervention will be assessed qualitatively, in semi-structured interviews, and quantitatively, with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, following the intervention. Acceptability of the daily surveys will also be assessed quantitatively. Preliminary efficacy of the interventions on the primary treatment outcomes of insomnia and PTSD symptoms and symptom clusters will be assessed. Secondary outcomes include changes in specific sleep architecture assessed in an at-home polysomnogram (sleep stages, including stage N3 percentage, sleep spindles, rapid eye movement (REM) theta, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset time, sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency), daily sleep characteristics (total sleep time, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset time, sleep quality), daily PTSD symptoms, and mindfulness. Exploratory outcomes include sleep quality, experiential avoidance, emotion regulation, self-compassion, depression, anxiety, and nightmares.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria12
- Endorses experiencing at least one lifetime very stressful or traumatic event that still distresses them
- Score of 13 or higher on the 8-item PCL-5
- Scoring 15 or higher on the Insomnia Severity Index, indicating the presence of moderate to severe insomnia
- Being able and willing to listen to online yoga nidra audio recordings that may each be up to 35 minutes long daily for 8 weeks
- Being willing to monitor sleep and PTSD symptoms for 10 weeks
- Normal or corrected to normal hearing and vision
- Fluent in English
- Reliable daily access to the internet Between the ages of 18 and 35
- Between the ages of 18 and 35
- Reliable daily access to the internet
- Willing to refrain from ingesting caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs the day of the sleep studies
- Currently receiving or seeking treatment for alcoholism or a substance abuse disorder
Exclusion Criteria8
- History of schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, or bipolar disorder
- Current endorsement of suicidality (score of 2 or higher on Item 9 of the BDI-II)
- Currently receiving psychological treatment for any mental health disorder
- Current diagnosis of any sleep disorder, excluding insomnia or nightmare disorder
- Currently taking benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonists, orexin agonists or antagonists, antiseizure medication, any medications for sleep
- Score of 5 or higher on STOP-BANG Questionnaire (indicating likelihood of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea)
- Previous adverse experience with meditation
- Current regular meditative practice (meditating once or more per month)
Interventions
The intervention consists of remotely delivered audio recordings (\~30 minute length) of iRest yoga nidra meditation instructions that participants will be asked to listen to daily for 8 weeks, for a total listening time of about 3.5 hours each week. The yoga nidra practices will be in the tradition of iRest. They will include the following sections: intention setting, articulating a heartfelt desire, inner resource, body sensing, breath sensing, emotion and cognition sensing and opposites, welcoming joy, witnessing awareness, and integration. Each week includes an additional brief (\~2-5 minute) introduction to one of the iRest yoga nidra sections. Participants will be asked to lie on a lightly cushioned surface when listening to the practices. Participants are informed that they may opt to listen to the recordings more often but are instructed to listen to the recordings at least once per day.
The intervention will consist of remotely delivered audio recordings of yoga nidra meditation instructions. Participants will be asked to listen to one \~30-minute practice and six \~10-minute practices per week (total listening time of \~1.5 hours each week) for 8 weeks. The yoga nidra practices will be in the tradition of iRest. They will include the following sections: intention setting, articulating a heartfelt desire, inner resource, body sensing, breath sensing, emotion and cognition sensing and opposites, welcoming joy, witnessing awareness, and integration. Each week includes an additional brief (2-5 minute) introduction to one of the iRest yoga nidra sections. Participants will be asked to lie on a lightly cushioned surface when listening to the practices. Participants are informed that they may opt to listen to the recordings more than once a day but are instructed to listen to the 30-minute recording once per week and the 10-minute meditations the other 6 days of the week.
Locations(1)
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NCT06888336