Melatonin Lotion for Sleep and Mental Health in Young Adults

This study is testing if a melatonin lotion can help young adults (ages 18-21) who have sleep problems, anxiety, or depression. Melatonin is a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep. You would apply 3 grams of melatonin lotion or a placebo lotion (a lotion without medicine, but with the same scent) to your skin one hour before bedtime. Researchers will measure your sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression levels to see if the melatonin lotion helps. To join, you need to have specific scores on surveys related to sleep disturbance, anxiety, or depression. You cannot be pregnant or currently using certain medications for sleep, anxiety, or depression, including melatonin. The study aims to enroll 60 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 60 planned participants. All participants will receive both melatonin lotion and a placebo lotion in a randomized crossover design, meaning the order in which you receive them is random.
What's involved
You will self-apply lotion nightly for two separate weeks, wear a wrist device (actigraph) and a chest strap (heart rate monitor), answer daily mood questions, and collect nightly saliva samples. There will be a seven-day break (washout period) between the two treatment weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your sleep, anxiety, and depression will be measured at the beginning, after the placebo week, and after the active treatment week (3 weeks total).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06768749

The Impact of Melatonin Lotion on Sleep and Mental Health

Recruiting
NAAges 18–21InterventionalBasic science
University of Redlands
~60 participants
Updated 2026-05-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Melatonin lotionPlacebo lotion

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Sleep disturbance
Measured over Measured pre-treatment, at end of placebo week, and at end of active treatment week (3 weeks total)
+8 more outcomes measured
Sleep Problems
Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorders

NCT06768749

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Redlands

    Redlands, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Lisa E Olson, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Redlands

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

a T score ≥ 48 on the sleep disturbance short form Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measure, and
a T score ≥ 55 on the anxiety or depression short form PROMIS measures (mild symptoms or more)

Exclusion

currently using antidepressant, anti-anxiety, or sleep medication including melatonin
are pregnant
have allergies/sensitivities to scented lotion
are unwilling to commit to keeping a similar bedtime (± 1 hour) during treatment weeks.
  • Sleep disturbanceMeasured pre-treatment, at end of placebo week, and at end of active treatment week (3 weeks total)

    PROMIS SF v1.0 - Sleep Disturb 8b

  • AnxietyMeasured pre-treatment, at end of placebo week, and at end of active treatment week (3 weeks total)

    PROMIS SF v1.0 - Anxiety 8a

  • DepressionMeasured pre-treatment, at end of placebo week, and at end of active treatment week (3 weeks total)

    PROMIS SF v1.0 - Depression 8b

  • Total sleep timeTwo weeks of data separated by a one week period

    Measured via actigraphy

  • Sleep efficiencyTwo weeks of data separated by a one week period

    Measured by actigraphy

  • Normalized high frequency power of heart rate variabilityTwo weeks of data separated by a one week period

    5 min period during sleep latency, overnight recording while sleeping, and 5 min period sitting upright each morning

  • Anxiety by momentary ecological assessmentThree times per day for two weeks of data separated by a one week period

    One item question: "How anxious do you feel right now?"

  • Mood by momentary ecological assessmentThree times per day for two weeks of data separated by a one week period

    Single-item questions ("How \_\_\_ do you feel right now?)

  • Salivary alpha-amylaseDaily at bedtime for two weeks of data separated by a one week period

    As an indicator of sympathetic nervous system activity