CompletedNot Applicable

Imagery Control Therapy and Lucid Dreaming for REM-Related Symptoms in Narcolepsy

Colombia98 participantsStarted 2024-03-01

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention based on lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy for reducing REM-related symptoms in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Specifically, the study examined the impact of the intervention on hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis, which are common and distressing symptoms associated with REM sleep intrusions in narcolepsy. Ninety-eight adults with confirmed narcolepsy type 1 were randomly assigned to either an experimental intervention group or a control group receiving standard pharmacological treatment, structured clinical follow-up, and sleep hygiene psychoeducation. The intervention consisted of six weekly 90-minute telehealth sessions integrating psychoeducation, dream awareness training, lucid dreaming induction techniques, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), metacognitive strategies, emotional regulation, and relapse prevention. Primary outcomes included changes in the frequency and distress associated with hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Secondary outcomes included subjective sleep quality, metacognitive dream-related variables, and quality of life. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up evaluations. The study aimed to determine whether behavioral interventions targeting dream awareness, emotional regulation, and metacognitive control could complement pharmacological treatment and improve REM-related symptoms and sleep-related quality of life in narcolepsy.

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.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged ≥18 years diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 1, confirmed by clinical evaluation and polysomnography. * Experiencing clinically significant hypnagogic hallucinations and/or sleep paralysis. * Stable pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy, such as modafinil and/or methylphenidate. * Able and willing to provide informed consent electronically. * Available to participate in six weekly virtual intervention sessions. * Willing to adhere to structured medical follow-up, including sleep hygiene education, nap guidance, sleep habit stabilization, and participation in sleep schedule programs. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of severe psychiatric disorders or dissociative disorders. Active use of psychoactive substances during the study period. * Participation in other interventions targeting lucid dreaming or imagery rehearsal during the trial. * Any medical or cognitive condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with participation or adherence to the intervention.

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

Change in Frequency and Distress of REM-Related Symptoms (Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis) measured by Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS)

Timeframe: Baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07609537

SponsorInstitute of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Colombia

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-06-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Narcolepsy Type 1 trials