The effect of vestibular stimulation in a four-hour sleep phase advance model of transient insomnia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if vestibular stimulation is an effective therapy for transient insomnia in a sleep phase advance model.


METHODS
Multi-site, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, sham-controlled trial


METHODS
This study was carried out at 6 sites in the United States.


METHODS
198 healthy normal sleepers.


METHODS
Bilateral electrical stimulation of the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear via electrodes on the skin of the mastoid process at a frequency of 0.5 Hz vs. sham stimulation.


RESULTS
We did not find a significant effect of treatment on our primary outcome variable, latency to persistent sleep onset (LPS). However, our planned analysis identified that the mean latency to sleep onset on the multiple sleep latency test was a significant covariate. This led us to carry out post hoc analyses, which showed a significant effect of treatment on LPS in those subjects with a mean MSLT sleep onset latency > or = 14 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibular stimulation did not have a therapeutic effect in a model of transient insomnia in the overall population studied. However, this study provides preliminary evidence that vestibular stimulation may shorten sleep onset latency compared with sham therapy in the subset of subjects with mean MSLT sleep onset latency > or = 14 minutes.
Krystal
Andrew D
AD
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. kryst001@mc.duke.edu
Zammit
Gary K
GK
Wyatt
James K
JK
Quan
Stuart F
SF
Edinger
Jack D
JD
White
David P
DP
Chiacchierini
Richard P
RP
Malhotra
Atul
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055865:Sleep Phase Chronotherapy; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*