CompletedNot Applicable

Targeted Memory Reactivation During REM Sleep in Patients With Social Anxiety Disorder

Switzerland51 participantsStarted 2020-02-18

Plain-language summary

With this study, the investigators aim to use sleep and dreaming in order to enhance exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder (SAD), by pairing the positive feedback phase of exposure (public talk) to an auditory stimulus during wake (associated sound) and subsequently applying this stimulus during sleep (targeted memory reactivation, TMR). Exposure therapy sessions will take place in a virtual reality (VR) environment, while physiological measures during the preparation phase of public talk such as heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance response (SCR) and subjective level of anxiety (SUDS) will be used in order to assess treatment efficiency across the sessions. Patients with SAD according to DSM-5 criteria will be included. The main hypothesis of this study is that participants who are presented with the associated sound during sleep (TMR group) will have reduced intensity of social anxiety compared to participants with no such association (control group), after both a full night's sleep with auditory stimulation during REM sleep in the laboratory, and after 1 week of stimulation during REM sleep at home. In addition, it is expected that fear-related dreams may correlate with anxiety levels during wakefulness after 1 week of stimulation at home.

Who can participate

Age range

16 Years – 40 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with social anxiety disorder (according to DSM-5 criteria and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale \> 65) * aged between 16 and 40 yo * no current treatment for SAD (cognitive-behavioral therapy, medications) Exclusion Criteria: * mood disorder, psychosis,other anxiety disorder or other mental disorders according to DSM-5 criteria * sleep disorder (e.g.,insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, restless legs syndrome) according to DSM-5 criteria * use of psychiatric medication * current treatment for SAD (cognitive-behavioral therapy, medications) * neurological disease

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Root mean square of the successive [R-R intervals] differences

Timeframe: 1 day

Root mean square of the successive [R-R intervals] differences

Timeframe: 1 week

Subjective Units of Distress Scale

Timeframe: 1 day

Subjective Units of Distress Scale

Timeframe: 1 week

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05261659

SponsorUniversity Hospital, Geneva

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2022-02-06

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Social Anxiety Disorder trials