A Transdiagnostic Intervention for Youth Sleep and Circadian Problems

Abstract

Sleep disturbance is an important contributor to, and maybe even cause of, vicious cycles of escalating vulnerability and increased risk among youth as they prepare to, and transition into, adulthood. The aim of this paper is to describe the scientific derivation of, and components of, the Youth version of the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS-C-Youth) to improve sleep. TranS-C-Youth draws from sources that are informed by basic sleep/circadian principles and aims to help clinicians address the broad range of sleep disturbances that are often experienced during adolescence and the transition to adulthood years. The advantages of developing a transdiagnostic treatment are outlined and include that this approach may reduce the "too many empirically supported treatments problem" (Weisz, Ng, & Bearman, 2014, p. 68). TranS-C-Youth is comprised of both core and optional modules and thus promotes maximum flexibility as well as efficiency.