Narcolepsy Nightmare Study
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Northwestern University
- Where
- Chicago, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Status
- Completed
- People taking part
- 7 people enrolled
- Started
- 22 Feb 2023
- Ended
- 30 Apr 2024
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groups
- Treatments tested
- Imagery rehearsal therapy
- Targeted dream control
- Record updated
- 30 June 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 15 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- 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
- Able to attend a study appointment in Evanston, IL
- Able and willing to not take wake-promoting medications on day of lab visit
Who cannot take part
- Previous behavioral treatment for nightmares
- History of a neurological disorder that might alter EEG
- Medical, psychiatric, or cognitive condition which would interfere with ability to engage in the treatment
- Currently engaged in sleep- or trauma-focused psychotherapy
- Untreated sleep apnea (AHI ≥ 5)
Where in United States
- Northwestern UniversityChicago, United States
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
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:
Read full original descriptionShow less
* 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).
The 2 groups in the trial
- Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT)Treatment being tested
Participants randomized to this group will receive 7 sessions of IRT.
Treatment: Imagery rehearsal therapy
- Imagery rehearsal therapy and targeted dream control (IRT+TDC)Treatment being tested
Participants randomized to this group will receive 7 sessions of IRT+TDC.
Treatment: Imagery rehearsal therapy and Targeted dream control
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Behavioral Treatment of Narcolepsy-Related Nightmares
- Record updated
- 30 June 2026