CompletedEarly Phase 1

Feasibility of a Mental-Health Intervention Based on Contemplative Sleep Practices

United States25 participantsStarted 2025-10-01

Plain-language summary

This is a feasibility study to test whether it is possible to deliver a program inspired by Tibetan Dream Yoga in a modern, accessible way. Dream Yoga is a set of contemplative practices that combine mental exercises during the day with techniques for becoming aware of dreaming within a dream (lucid dreaming) and engage in certain dream activities. The purpose of these practices is to help people explore and loosen rigid patterns of thought and behavior. In this study, the investigators are developing and testing a program that includes guided imagination, meditation, and lucid-dreaming practices, supported by virtual-reality experiences and home-based sleep-monitoring technology. Participants are randomly assigned to either the Dream-Yoga-inspired program or a comparison program focused on general health and sleep education. Because this is a feasibility trial, our main goals are to see whether people are willing and able to take part, whether they find the program acceptable, and whether the investigators can deliver it as planned. The investigators will also explore early signals of change in sleep, dreaming, and thinking. The long-term goal of this research is to determine if such interventions could be beneficial for supporting psychological well-being, improving sleep, and enhancing creativity and flexibility of thought.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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.

Exclusion criteria

. a history of an established meditative practice
. psychological or psychiatric disorders (other than mild anxiety)
. sleep disorders, nightshift work in the past month, extreme chronotype or irregular sleeping pattern
. use of recreational drugs in the past month
. history of asthma, seizures or heart problems
. unwillingness to wear headband during sleep.
. Not having an address in the domestic United States, so residents of other countries would be excluded.

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

Study Retention

Timeframe: 7 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)

Acceptability of the Intervention

Timeframe: 7 weeks (throughout the intervention period)

Tolerability of Dream Yoga Virtual Reality

Timeframe: 7 weeks (after each VR session)

Study Retention

Timeframe: 7 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07217340

SponsorNorthwestern University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Anxiety trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 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.

Exclusion criteria

. a history of an established meditative practice
. psychological or psychiatric disorders (other than mild anxiety)
. sleep disorders, nightshift work in the past month, extreme chronotype or irregular sleeping pattern
. use of recreational drugs in the past month
. history of asthma, seizures or heart problems
. unwillingness to wear headband during sleep.
. Not having an address in the domestic United States, so residents of other countries would be excluded.

What they're measuring

Study Retention

Timeframe: 7 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)

Acceptability of the Intervention

Timeframe: 7 weeks (throughout the intervention period)

Tolerability of Dream Yoga Virtual Reality

Timeframe: 7 weeks (after each VR session)

Study Retention

Timeframe: 7 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)