Mental Imagery and Targeted Memory Reactivation in PTSD

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Nightmares, REM-Sleep Type; PTSD
• Interventions: Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy; Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep

• Registration Number: NCT05933109
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Geneva

Brief Summary

With this protocol, investigators examine whether targeted memory reactivation (TMR), a technique used to strengthen memories, can accelerate remission of traumatic nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. This protocol uses TMR during REM sleep to strengthen positive memories generated by Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), a recommended treatment of nightmares. Patients with PTSD are asked to perform 3 weekly IRT sessions and, while they generate a positive outcome of their recurrent nightmare, half of the patients are exposed to a sound S1 (TMR group), while the other half is not exposed to this sound (control group). All patients will perform IRT every evening at home and will be exposed to the sound S1 during REM sleep with a wireless headband, which automatically detects sleep stages. Clinical evaluation of the severity of PTSD and nightmares before and after (1-month follow-up and 3-months follow-up) this intervention takes place using the validated Clinically Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5, primary outcome measure). The investigators hypothesize that patients treated with IRT and who are exposed, during REM sleep to a sound that had previously been associated with the new positive dream scenario of IRT (TMR group), will have more reduced frequency of PTSD severity and nightmares compared to participants with stimulation of the same, but non-associated, sound during REM sleep (control group).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-03-01
• Study First Submitted: 2023-06-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-06-27
• Status Verified: 2023-07
• Study First Posted: 2023-07-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-07-07
• Last Update Posted: 2023-07-11
• Primary Completion: 2025-03-01
• Study Completion: 2025-03-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• with untreated persistent PTSD according to DSM-5 (> 1 month), suffering from chronic nightmares
• with no active specific treatment for PTSD

Exclusion Criteria

• patients with active specific treatment for PTSD
• patients with neurological disorders

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control group	Imagery Rehearsal Therapy	Patients will not receive the sound S1 while they generate a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). During REM sleep, they will receive the same sound as the experimental group (S1) under the same conditions.
TMR group	Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep	Patients will receive a sound S1 while they generate a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). They will also receive the sound S1 during REM sleep.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5	3 months	Validated questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Beck Depression Inventory	3 months	Validated self-report scale to assess depressive symptoms, the score ranges from 0-63, zero indicating no symptom severity and 63 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	3 months	Validated self-report scale to assess the quality of sleep, the score ranges from 0-21, zero indicating no symptom severity and 21 indicating the higher symptom severity.
PTSD Checklist for DSM5	3 months	Validated self-report measure of PTSD, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Nightmare Frequency	3 months	Number of nightmares per week
Nightmare Distress Questionnaire	3 months	Validated self-report scale to assess the emotional disturbance attributed to the nightmares, the score ranges from 0-52, zero indicating no symptom severity and 52 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Positive emotions in dreams	3 months	Use of a dream diary

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Center for Sleep Medicine; 🇨🇭 Geneva, Switzerland