Akash Dantuluri
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): J Todd Arnedt
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Psychiatry / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Akash Dantuluri, J Todd Arnedt
Presenter: 110
Abstract
Insomnia has been shown to be a predictor of an individual’s relapse into Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and it is frequently experienced while they are seeking out treatment. Thus, it is imperative to look into how the treatment of insomnia can help these individuals avoid relapse. The Michigan Sleep Treatment to Avoid Relapse (MSTAR) study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of alternative treatments to hypnotic medications currently prescribed for insomnia. This will be done by recruiting 150 individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for both chronic insomnia and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 6 weekly sessions of either Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia or Sleep Hygiene Education. After completing treatments, participants are monitored over the course of a year in order to examine changes in their sleeping and drinking habits. The MSTAR study is currently in the recruitment phase, meaning that there are not yet any definitive findings or conclusions, but the implications of the study can still be hypothesized. This study will allow an in-depth examination of the effects of these first-line therapies for insomnia in adults with AUD. This is a significant contribution to this field because proper evaluation of non-medicative approaches will benefit patients by allowing them to avoid potentially addictive pharmaceutical treatments. Additionally, results from MSTAR have the potential to aid in the treatment of alcohol abuse disorder as a whole by allowing longer periods of abstinence, better sleep, and higher quality of life.
Biomedical Sciences
