Sleep's Influence on the Treatment of Intrusive Emotional
- Conditions
- PTSDIntrusive Memories
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Sleep/Nap
- Registration Number
- NCT05678361
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Zurich
- Brief Summary
Intrusive memories represent a debilitating core feature of PTSD, one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders following trauma. Exposure therapy is amongst the most successful treatments of PTSD that is recommended by most of the current national and international guidelines. The current study aims to test whether sleep as adjunct to written exposure sessions, a type of exposure- based treatment for PTSD, may boost the effectiveness of the therapy.
- Detailed Description
Intrusive memories represent a debilitating core feature of PTSD, one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders following trauma. Exposure therapy is amongst the most successful treatments of PTSD that is recommended by most of the current national and international guidelines. However, not all patients benefit equally and only about 50% show sustained response. There is thus room for improvement in terms of (i) better understanding who benefits from this type of therapy and (ii) possible ways of augmenting existing trauma-focused therapies. The current study aims to contribute to these endevours. Specifically, the study aims to test whether sleep as adjunct to written exposure sessions, a type of exposure- based treatment for PTSD, may boost the effectiveness of the therapy.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 42
- DSM V criteria of PTSD (at least moderate symptoms in two categories)
- Currently receiving Written Exposure Therapy at one of the psychotherapy centers at the Psychiatric University Clinic (PUC).
- Not more than moderate alcohol consumption (not more than 5 alcoholic drinks/week).
- Ability to understand the study instructions
- Travel over > 3 time zones in < 3 months
- head injury
- shift work
- current substance abuse
- neurological disease
- drug addiction
- Current suicidality
Specific exclusion criteria for the fMRI:
- Acute psychotic symptoms
- Pregnancy
- Claustrophobia
- Magnetic resonance imaging incompatibility:
- Cardiac pacemaker or other metallic implants (e.g. metallic cardiac valve, insulin pump)
- Metallic foreign particles (e.g. after bullet wound, shell splinter, clips, metal prostheses)
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Sleep after exposure Sleep/Nap Participants take a nap during 90 min following three exposure (WET) sessions.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Clinician- assessed Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 week One week post- treatment Clinician- assessed PTSD symptom severity (CAPS- 5)
Self-reported Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 week One week post- treatment Self - reported PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5)
Clinician- assessed Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 month One month post- treatment Clinician- assessed PTSD symptom severity (CAPS- 5)
Self-reported Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 month One month post- treatment Self - reported PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Time spent in N2 sleep Immediately after written exposure therapy N2 time according to EEG
Total sleep time Immediately after written exposure therapy Total sleep time according to EEG
Time spent in N1 sleep Immediately after written exposure therapy N1 time according to EEG
Time spent in N3 sleep Immediately after written exposure therapy N3 time according to EEG
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Psychiatric University Hospital
🇨🇭Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland