Rapid Anti-Depressant Effects of Selective Sleep Deprivation (RAD-SD)

The RAD-SD study is testing a non-invasive and non-medication approach for improving mood that involves selectively suppressing a part of sleep that is abnormal in depression. This approach does not affect sleep duration. Rather, tones are played during sleep to keep a specific stage of sleep from occurring. These tones are calibrated before sleep so that they do not wake you up. Research has shown this approach to be helpful in depressed adults. 

Your teen may qualify for the RAD-SD study if they:

• Are 13 -18 years old
• Are currently depressed
• Have no history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
• Have no serious medical or neurological conditions
• Are not taking psychiatric medication other than Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Principal Investigator:
Adrian Soehner, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Study Coordinator:
Kathleen Scully, 412-383-3110 or beststudy@upmc.edu

The RAD-SD study was funded by a grant from the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation.