Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Self-Help Booklets for Sleep in Adults With Pulmonary Hypertension

This research is exploring whether self-help booklets can improve sleep for adults in the UK living with pulmonary hypertension, a condition affecting the lungs and heart. Many people with this condition struggle with sleep problems, which can make their symptoms worse and impact their daily life. The booklets use techniques from a proven therapy called CBT-I, which helps people understand and change habits that affect their sleep. Participants will work through these booklets at home and complete questionnaires about their sleep and mood. The study aims to see if these booklets genuinely help people sleep better, comparing those who receive them early with those who get them later.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Sheffield

Enrolment target

Start

01 Sep 2026

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2027

Pulmonary Hypertension Insomnia Sleep Hygiene

What is this study about?

Many adults in the UK live with a serious lung condition called pulmonary hypertension (PH). This condition causes high blood pressure in the arteries leading to the lungs, making everyday tasks like breathing difficult. People with PH often experience symptoms like breathlessness, tiredness, and chest pain, and managing the condition can be very challenging. While treatments for PH have improved, helping people live longer, many still have ongoing symptoms that affect their quality of life. Improving how people feel day-to-day is therefore really important.

One common problem for people with PH is trouble sleeping. Poor sleep can make PH symptoms feel even worse and make it harder to cope. While there's not much research yet on sleep specifically for people with PH, studies are beginning to show a link between sleep problems and how well people manage their condition and their overall mood. There are currently no specific sleep programmes recommended by the NHS or NICE for people with PH, meaning they might not get the specialised support they need.

This study wants to see if a set of self-help booklets can make a real difference to sleep quality for adults with PH. These booklets are based on a well-known and effective psychological treatment for sleep problems called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). This therapy helps people learn how their thoughts, feelings, and daily routines affect their sleep and gives them tools to improve it. By taking part, you could help researchers understand if these booklets can be a valuable new way to help people with PH get a better night's sleep.

Key takeaways

This study explores self-help booklets for sleep problems in adults with pulmonary hypertension.
The booklets use techniques from CBT-I, a proven therapy for insomnia.
Participation involves reading booklets at home and completing questionnaires about sleep and mood.
You might get the booklets immediately, or later if they are found to be helpful.
The study aims to improve quality of life for people living with pulmonary hypertension.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to join this study if you are an adult, aged 18 or over, and have been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. We’ll ask you to tell us this yourself, so you won’t need to provide official proof of your diagnosis.

It's important that you are also experiencing difficulties with your sleep, as this is what the study aims to help with. You must be able to give your consent (meaning you understand and agree to take part), fill out questionnaires, and be able to read and understand English. Your participation is completely voluntary.

However, this study might not be right for you if you are having serious thoughts of harming yourself or feeling suicidal. This is because a self-help programme might not provide the immediate support needed in such situations. If this is the case, the study team will help you find more suitable support services instead.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension?
Are you currently having trouble sleeping?
Can you read and understand English?
Are you able to fill out questionnaires online?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll first be asked to fill out some questionnaires online. These will ask about your sleep, your mood, and how you're feeling generally, including any symptoms of anxiety or depression.

After this, you'll be randomly put into one of two groups, a bit like tossing a coin. One group (the 'intervention group') will receive the self-help booklets straight away. You'll work through one booklet each week for four weeks, reading them at home in your own time. The other group (the 'wait-list group') will not receive the booklets during the study period, but will get them later if the study finds they are helpful. This helps the researchers compare the results fairly.

Throughout the study, both groups will fill out the same questionnaires again after four weeks, and then one month later. If you're in the group that gets the booklets, you might also be contacted during the programme to chat about how you're finding them, and again at the end of the study to share your overall experience. The whole study, from start to finish for each participant, involves about two months of follow-up after the initial four-week booklet period.

Potential risks and benefits

The main potential benefit of taking part is that the self-help booklets, which are based on a proven therapy, might help you improve your sleep. Better sleep could lead to feeling more rested and potentially help you cope better with your pulmonary hypertension. However, we can't guarantee you will personally benefit. This is a research study, so the main aim is to find out if this approach works for people with PH in general. There are no known physical risks involved. The commitment to filling out questionnaires and working through the booklets may take some of your time. Remember, your participation is voluntary, and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your care.

Locations (1)

Clinical Psychology Unit
Verified postcode
Sheffield, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is pulmonary hypertension (PH)?

PH is a serious lung condition where the blood pressure in the arteries leading to your lungs is too high. This can make your heart work harder and lead to symptoms like breathlessness.

What is CBT-I?

CBT-I stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia. It's a structured approach that teaches you how your thoughts, behaviours, and daily habits can affect your sleep, and gives you tools to improve it.

Will I get medication in this study?

No, this study does not involve any medication. It focuses on using self-help booklets to improve sleep through psychological techniques.

What if the booklets don't help my sleep?

While we hope the booklets will be helpful, there's no guarantee they will work for everyone. If you're in the 'wait-list' group, you will still receive the booklets later if they are proven to be helpful for others in the study.

How much time will I need to spend on the study?

You'll spend some time completing questionnaires at the start, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks. If you receive the booklets, you'll spend some time each week for four weeks reading and working through them at home.

How to find out more

Isaac Bhatoy, Trainee Clinical Psychologist

ibhatoy1@sheffield.ac.uk (+44) 114 222 6533 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.