Narcolepsy Nightmare Study

Northwestern University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Narcolepsy Type 2; Narcolepsy Without Cataplexy; Narcolepsy With Cataplexy; Narcolepsy Type 1; Narcolepsy

Treatments: Behavioral: Imagery rehearsal therapy; Behavioral: Targeted dream control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05709873

STU00218129

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to test two behavioral treatments for nightmares in adults with narcolepsy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) effective for narcolepsy-related nightmares?
• Does adding targeted dream control (TDC) to IRT make it more effective?

Participants will be randomized to one of two treatment groups and will be asked to:

• Complete a daily log of sleep symptoms for up to 13 weeks.
• Attend 7 sessions of treatment.
• Complete questionnaires before and after treatment.
• Go to the research lab in Evanston, IL to complete a sleep study during a daytime nap (Chicago area residents only).

Enrollment: 7 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria (all participants):

• Diagnosis of narcolepsy
• Age 18 or older
• Speak English
• Live in the United States
• Receiving standard medical care for narcolepsy
• Sleep and psychiatric medications stable for at least 3 months
• Nightmare frequency of ≥3 times per week
• Nightmare Disorder Index score indicates probable nightmare disorder

Inclusion Criteria (Chicago area participants):

• Able to attend a study appointment in Evanston, IL
• Able and willing to not take wake-promoting medications on day of lab visit

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of a neurological disorder that might alter EEG
• Currently engaged in sleep- or trauma-focused psychotherapy
• Previous behavioral treatment for nightmares
• Medical, psychiatric, or cognitive condition which would interfere with ability to engage in the treatment
• Untreated sleep apnea (AHI ≥ 5)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

7 participants in 2 patient groups

Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized to this group will receive 7 sessions of IRT.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Imagery rehearsal therapy

Imagery rehearsal therapy and targeted dream control (IRT+TDC)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized to this group will receive 7 sessions of IRT+TDC.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Targeted dream control

Behavioral: Imagery rehearsal therapy