Nightmares, REM-Sleep TypeNCT05933109
Mental Imagery and Targeted Memory Reactivation in PTSD
A study testing Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy in people with Nightmares, REM-Sleep Type and PTSD, run by University Hospital, Geneva at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Nightmares, REM-Sleep Type, PTSD
- What is being tested?
- Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2023to 27 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- with untreated persistent PTSD according to DSM-5 (> 1 month), suffering from chronic nightmares
- with no active specific treatment for PTSD
Who cannot join
- patients with active specific treatment for PTSD
- patients with neurological disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Augmentation of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy With Targeted Memory Reactivation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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
- Being tested
- Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleepBehavioural
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.
Imagery Rehearsal TherapyBehavioural
These patients will receive the classic treatment of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) for nightmares without association with the sound S1.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| TMR group | Experimental | Patients will receive a sound S1 while they generate a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). They will also receive the sound S1 during REM sleep. Receives: Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep |
| Control group | Active comparator | Patients will not receive the sound S1 while they generate a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). During REM sleep, they will receive the same sound as the experimental group (S1) under the same conditions. Receives: Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
Validated questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 1 month
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
Validated questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 3 months
Secondary outcomes (12)
Nightmare Frequency
Number of nightmares per week
Measured: 1 month
Nightmare Frequency
Number of nightmares per week
Measured: 3 months
Nightmare Distress Questionnaire
Validated self-report scale to assess the emotional disturbance attributed to the nightmares, the score ranges from 0-52, zero indicating no symptom severity and 52 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 1 month
Nightmare Distress Questionnaire
Validated self-report scale to assess the emotional disturbance attributed to the nightmares, the score ranges from 0-52, zero indicating no symptom severity and 52 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 3 months
Positive emotions in dreams
Use of a dream diary
Measured: 1 month
Positive emotions in dreams
Use of a dream diary
Measured: 3 months
PTSD Checklist for DSM5
Validated self-report measure of PTSD, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 1 month
PTSD Checklist for DSM5
Validated self-report measure of PTSD, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 3 months
Beck Depression Inventory
Validated self-report scale to assess depressive symptoms, the score ranges from 0-63, zero indicating no symptom severity and 63 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 1 month
Beck Depression Inventory
Validated self-report scale to assess depressive symptoms, the score ranges from 0-63, zero indicating no symptom severity and 63 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 3 months
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Validated self-report scale to assess the quality of sleep, the score ranges from 0-21, zero indicating no symptom severity and 21 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 1 month
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Validated self-report scale to assess the quality of sleep, the score ranges from 0-21, zero indicating no symptom severity and 21 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Jul 2023
- Study start1 Mar 2023
- Primary completion27 Jul 2025
- Study completion27 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Nightmares, REM-Sleep TypeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University Hospital, GenevaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Geneva
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lampros Perogamvros, University Hospital, Geneva
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05933109
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2019-02270_TR
- Other IDs
- 2019
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 4 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Augmentation of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy With Targeted Memory Reactivation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05933109
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2019-02270_TR
- Conditions
- Nightmares, REM-Sleep Type, PTSD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, GenevaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 27 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 27 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| TMR group | Experimental | Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleepPatients will receive a sound S1 while they generate a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). They will also receive the sound S1 during REM sleep. |
| Control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal TherapyPatients will not receive the sound S1 while they generate a positive outcome of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). During REM sleep, they will receive the same sound as the experimental group (S1) under the same conditions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- with untreated persistent PTSD according to DSM-5 (> 1 month), suffering from chronic nightmares
- with no active specific treatment for PTSD
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- patients with active specific treatment for PTSD
- patients with neurological disorders
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleepEmerging 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. | Behavioural | TMR group |
| Imagery Rehearsal TherapyThese patients will receive the classic treatment of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) for nightmares without association with the sound S1. | Behavioural | Control group |
Primary outcome
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
Time frame: 1 month
Validated questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
Time frame: 3 months
Validated questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms, the score ranges from 0-80, zero indicating no symptom severity and 80 indicating the higher symptom severity.
12 secondary outcomes
Nightmare Frequency
Time frame: 1 month
Nightmare Frequency
Time frame: 3 months
Nightmare Distress Questionnaire
Time frame: 1 month
Nightmare Distress Questionnaire
Time frame: 3 months
Positive emotions in dreams
Time frame: 1 month
Positive emotions in dreams
Time frame: 3 months
PTSD Checklist for DSM5
Time frame: 1 month
PTSD Checklist for DSM5
Time frame: 3 months
Beck Depression Inventory
Time frame: 1 month
Beck Depression Inventory
Time frame: 3 months
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: 1 month
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: 3 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy in people with Nightmares, REM-Sleep Type and PTSD, run by University Hospital, Geneva at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (time frame: 1 month). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2026.