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News Release

October 11, 2005

Contact: Jane Shaskan, 860-679-4777
e-mail: shaskan@nso.uchc.edu

Research Study Focuses on Insomnia

FARMINGTON, CONN. – A study comparing an investigational medication and a placebo for the treatment of insomnia is underway at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

“When you can’t sleep simply facing the day can be much more challenging,” said principal investigator Andrew Winokur, M.D., Ph.D. “You may feel tired, even exhausted and this leads to problems concentrating and trouble dealing with daily activities. Often, when a person is sleep deprived, they may become irritable with their friends and family. This can cause unnecessary tension and frustration for everyone,” he said.

Symptoms of insomnia include:

  • difficulty falling asleep
  • waking up during the night and then experiencing difficulty falling back to sleep
  • waking too early
  • not feeling refreshed upon rising.

The amount of sleep a person needs varies in each individual, explained Dr. Winokur, who is the director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Treatment, Research and Training Center in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health Center. “Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours a person sleeps, or how long it takes to fall asleep, but how a person feels during waking hours,” he said.

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 who are struggling with sleeping problems may be eligible to participate in the 12-month clinical trial. Participation involves taking the study medication or a sugar pill, medical evaluations, and laboratory evaluations at no charge. For more information and to see if you qualify, call 860-679-6776 or toll-free at 1-877-252-2225.

IRB #: 05-085

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

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