Blue-blocking Glasses for Sleep Disorders in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Blue-blocking Glasses for Treating Evening Activation and Sleep Disorders in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - a Pilot Trans-diagnostic Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sleep problems and regulation difficulties are frequent in the child and adolescent psychiatry population. Insomnia and delayed sleep-wake phase disorders (DSPWD) are highly prevalent, and risk factors for developing more severe illness courses and chronic disorders. Pharmacological treatments of sleep disorders dominate even for the youngest patients but are unsupported by long-term data on outcome and side effects. The majority of non-pharmacological treatment options are composite and resource demanding. The investigators will examine the effects and feasibility of the isolated intervention of evening/night use of blue-blocking glasses/real darkness as adjunctive treatment for insomnia and delayed sleep phase disorder in inpatient and outpatient settings for children and adolecents.

The investigators will conduct a pilot study to examine the effect and feasibility of blue-blocking glasses as adjunctive treatment for insomnia and delayed sleep phase disorder in child and adolescent inpatients and outpatient settings. If the intervention and protocol are feasible and promising with regards to clinical and physiological effects, the study will provide a sound base for planning larger multicenter RCT's. Blue-blocking glasses are a minimal risk, low-cost intervention, and have potential to improve illness-course through improved sleep and healthier circadian function. The intervention may reduce the need for pharmacological treatment for sleep and circadian disorders and enhance coping strategies for the adolescents and their caregivers. Lastly, the pilot study will yield much needed data on light conditions (daylight and nightlight) in hospital environments for children and adolescents and may contribute to improved sleep conditions in hospital wards.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 12-18 years, receiving health-care from child and adolescent mental health services at UPA University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø or BUP Haugesund Hospital, Haugesund
• Current Insomnia or DSPD comorbid to one or several pychiatric symptom presentations or diagnoses
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent
• Participants aged 12-15,9 years also need consent from both parents/carers
• Able to comply with protocol
• Able to discontinue melatonin or BB-glasses if currently used, with at least 3 days washout period

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not able to comply with protocol for a required minimum of one night
• Blindness or severely reduced translucency of both eyes
• Known malformation or damage of optical tract blindness
• Use of melatonin all formulas that cannot be paused
• High risk for suicide or self-harm
• Consent from both partents/carers unlikely (participants age 12-15,9 years)