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Mental Imagery and Targeted Memory Reactivation in PTSD

NCT05933109 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 46

Last updated 2026-03-04

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

With this protocol, investigators examine whether targeted memory reactivation (TMR), a technique used to strengthen memories, can accelerate remission of traumatic nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. This protocol uses TMR during REM sleep to strengthen positive memories generated by Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), a recommended treatment of nightmares. Patients with PTSD are asked to perform 3 weekly IRT sessions and, while they generate a positive outcome of their recurrent nightmare, half of the patients are exposed to a sound S1 (TMR group), while the other half is not exposed to this sound (control group). All patients will perform IRT every evening at home and will be exposed to the sound S1 during REM sleep with a wireless headband, which automatically detects sleep stages. Clinical evaluation of the severity of PTSD and nightmares before and after (1-month follow-up and 3-months follow-up) this intervention takes place using the validated Clinically Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5, primary outcome measure). The investigators hypothesize that patients treated with IRT and who are exposed, during REM sleep to a sound that had previously been associated with the new positive dream scenario of IRT (TMR group), will have more reduced frequency of PTSD severity and nightmares compared to participants with stimulation of the same, but non-associated, sound during REM sleep (control group).

Conditions

  • Nightmares, REM-Sleep Type
  • PTSD

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep

Emerging evidence shows that REM sleep plays a causal role in extinction learning, emotion regulation and consolidation of emotionally positive memories. By using targeted memory reactivation (TMR), a known method where a sound S1 is associated with a waking experience (i.e., a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy in this study) and strengthening it during REM sleep, the investigators want to accelerate the remission of traumatic nightmares and PTSD symptomatology.

BEHAVIORAL

Imagery Rehearsal Therapy

These patients will receive the classic treatment of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) for nightmares without association with the sound S1.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Geneva

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-03-01
Primary Completion
2025-07-27
Completion
2025-10-27

Countries

  • Switzerland

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05933109 on ClinicalTrials.gov