The Power Down Pilot Study: A Novel Bedtime Manipulation Protocol
Powering Down: A Pilot Study of a Bedtime Manipulation to Support Sleep for Autistic Children
Who can join
Ages 6 to 10 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Child between the ages of 6 and 10 years old (at least 40%, no more than 60% female) 2. Parent-reported autism diagnosis for child 3. Parent-reported extended and problematic settling down delay 4. Parent-reported sensory over-responsivity (a "yes" to at least 8 items in the sensory screening section of the checklist) 5. Parent willing to participate in nightly routine during the 2 week study 6. Located within the Pittsburgh area Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participants will be excluded if they do not understand English or are unable to travel to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital. 2. Children who have trauma or other histories for whom physical touch is triggering (per caregiver report) will be excluded. 3. If a child spends bedtime at a different caregiver's home for \>50% of the nights and that caregiver is not willing to participate in this study, the child will be excluded from this study.
About the study
The goal of this pilot intervention study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel bedtime manipulation protocol called "The Power Down" for autistic youth, ages 6-10. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Is the Power Down feasible for caregivers to do each night? 2. Do the families find the Power Down an acceptable intervention to address their child's difficulties settling down to fall asleep?
What is being tested
- Power Down bedtime manipulation (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Participants: 10 · Started: Jul 5, 2025
Contact the study team
- Amy G Hartman, PhD · Phone: 412-648-7997
- Adriane M Soehner, PhD · Phone: 412-246-6690
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06386029
Locations in the U.S.
| Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.