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The University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt + Me is calling for caregivers of children between the ages of 3 and 5 to take part in a study on behavior and sleep difficulties.

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The Optimizing Attention and Sleep Intervention Study (OASIS) is an eight-month study during which caregivers with children between ages 3 and 5 will take part in four to six behavior sessions that each run about an hour.

The study will examine the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for preschool-aged children. Compensation will be provided. Locations for the study will be either at home or at a pediatrician’s office of choice.

The purpose of the study is to examine the effectiveness of treatments for preschool-aged children with behavioral or sleep difficulties. All participating families will receive a parent behavioral intervention, with evidence-based strategies for improving disruptive behavior, from a licensed behavioral health clinician.

The child will also continue to receive routine care provided by the pediatrician while participating in the study.

After enrolling in the study, families will be assigned at random to receive one of two behavioral treatments. The behavioral health therapist will work with participants to identify areas of concern regarding a child’s behavior and teach strategies or skills to address the behavior. 

Participants will be asked to complete homework assignments between sessions as well as three questionnaires – before and after treatment and four months later – that cover family demographics, psychological factors such as depression or anxiety, and sleep. At various times, children will be asked to wear an actigraphy watch to monitor their sleep and caregivers will receive texts twice daily that ask about the child’s behavior and sleep.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the study, caregivers must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have children between ages 3-5 with behavioral or sleep difficulties
• Have children receiving care at one of the following CCP practices: Bass Wolfson Squirrel Hill, GIL East Liberty, GIL Murrysville, CCP Shenango, Bass Wolfson Cranberry, or CCP Neshannock
• Have children who have not had delays in their milestones or been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder such as autism or Down’s syndrome

For more information on the study, visit the Pitt + Me website.