Narcolepsy Type 1ICLDR-NAR TriaNCT07609537
Imagery Control Therapy and Lucid Dreaming for REM-Related Symptoms in Narcolepsy
A study testing Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-up in people with Narcolepsy Type 1 and Hypnagogic Hallucinations, run by Institute of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Colombia at 1 site in Colombia.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Narcolepsy Type 1, Hypnagogic Hallucinations, Sleep Paralysis
- What is being tested?
- Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-up
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 98 participants
- Where
- 1 siteColombia
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2024to 15 Jun 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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Colombia1 site
Bahavioral Sleep Medicine Institute
Medellín, Antioquia, 050021
About this study
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.
Read more
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.
Read the detailed description
Detailed Description
Narcolepsy type 1 is a chronic neurological sleep-wake disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and REM sleep dissociation phenomena, including hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Although pharmacological therapies are effective for managing daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, treatment options for REM-related perceptual symptoms remain limited. Hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis are frequently associated with emotional distress, impaired quality of life, anxiety, and sleep disruption.
Lucid dreaming refers to the awareness of dreaming while the dream is occurring and may involve the ability to voluntarily influence dream content. Previous studies have suggested that lucid dreaming training and imagery-based cognitive techniques may reduce emotional distress associated with nightmares and other disturbing dream experiences. Given the high prevalence of lucid dreaming experiences among patients with narcolepsy, these strategies may represent a promising behavioral approach for REM-related symptoms.
This study was designed as a randomized controlled longitudinal trial to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy in patients with narcolepsy type 1. The study was conducted between March 2023 and April 2025 using synchronous telehealth sessions delivered through a secure videoconferencing platform.
A total of 98 participants with clinically and polysomnographically confirmed narcolepsy type 1 were recruited from specialized sleep medicine centers in Colombia and Costa Rica. Eligible participants were adults presenting clinically significant hypnagogic hallucinations and/or sleep paralysis and receiving stable pharmacological treatment. Participants with severe psychiatric disorders, dissociative disorders, or active substance use disorders were excluded.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Experimental group (n = 49): received six weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy in addition to stable pharmacological treatment.
Control group (n = 49): continued standard pharmacological treatment with structured clinical follow-up and sleep hygiene psychoeducation focused on sleep-wake regularity, scheduled naps, healthy sleep habits, and general education about narcolepsy.
The intervention was delivered by trained clinical psychologists specialized in behavioral sleep medicine. Treatment components included:
Psychoeducation about narcolepsy and REM-related symptoms. Dream diary monitoring and dream awareness training. Lucid dreaming induction and maintenance techniques. Reality testing and metacognitive strategies. Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) and imagery restructuring techniques. Emotional regulation and coping strategies within lucid dreams. Relapse prevention and guided autonomous practice.
Primary outcomes were reductions in the frequency and distress associated with hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Secondary outcomes included subjective sleep quality assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), narcolepsy symptom severity assessed with the Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS), dream-related metacognitive variables assessed with the LUCID Scale, and quality of life assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire.
Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests, Cohen's d effect sizes, mixed-effects longitudinal models, and multiple linear regression analyses. Missing data were handled under the missing-at-random assumption using mixed-effects modeling.
The study hypothesized that systematic lucid dreaming training and imagery control techniques would reduce the frequency and emotional distress associated with REM-related symptoms while improving sleep quality, emotional regulation, and quality of life. Preliminary findings demonstrated clinically significant and sustained reductions in REM-related symptoms, improvements in dream-related metacognitive variables, and better subjective sleep quality and emotional well-being in the intervention group compared with controls.
- Conditions
- Narcolepsy Type 1, Hypnagogic Hallucinations, Sleep Paralysis, REM Sleep Intrusion Symptoms, Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence
- Being tested
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control Therapy, Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-up
- Keywords
- Narcolepsy, REM sleep, Lucid dreaming, Imagery Control Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Hypnagogic hallucinations, Sleep paralysis, REM sleep intrusion, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Narcolepsy Type 1, Central disorders of hypersomnolence, Sleep disorder therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Hallucinations, Sleep Paralysis, Narcolepsy, Disorders of Excessive Somnolence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control TherapyBehavioural
A structured six-session behavioral intervention designed for patients with narcolepsy type 1 experiencing REM-related symptoms such as hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. The intervention integrated cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR), lucid dreaming training, and imagery control techniques. Components included psychoeducation about narcolepsy and REM sleep physiology, dream diary monitoring, dream awareness training, lucid dreaming induction and maintenance strategies, reality testing, metacognitive techniques, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), emotional regulation strategies, modification of distressing dream content, relapse prevention, and sleep hygiene education focused on sleep-wake regularity and scheduled nap regulation. Sessions were delivered weekly via synchronous telehealth by trained clinical psychologists specialized in behavioral sleep medicine while participants continued stable pharmacological treatment.
Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-upBehavioural
Participants received structured clinical follow-up and behavioral sleep hygiene psychoeducation while continuing stable pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy. The intervention included education regarding sleep-wake schedule regularity, scheduled naps, healthy sleep habits, management of daytime sleepiness, and general education about narcolepsy and REM-related symptoms. Sessions were delivered remotely through synchronous telehealth contacts with a frequency comparable to routine clinical follow-up. No lucid dreaming training, imagery control techniques, imagery rehearsal therapy, or metacognitive dream interventions were provided in this comparator arm.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: CBT-NAR With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control Therapy | Experimental | Participants received six weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy, delivered via synchronous telehealth by trained clinical psychologists specialized in behavioral sleep medicine. The intervention included psychoeducation on narcolepsy and REM-related symptoms, dream diary training, lucid dreaming induction techniques, metacognitive strategies, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), emotional regulation techniques, relapse prevention, and sleep hygiene education focused on sleep-wake regularity and scheduled nap regulation. Participants continued stable pharmacological treatment throughout the study. Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control Therapy |
| Active Comparator: Standard Treatment and Sleep Hygiene Education | Active comparator | Participants continued stable standard pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy combined with structured clinical follow-up and psychoeducation in sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene education included recommendations regarding sleep-wake schedule regularity, scheduled naps, healthy sleep habits, and general education about narcolepsy. No lucid dreaming training, imagery control techniques, or metacognitive dream interventions were administered to this group. Receives: Behavioral: Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-up |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Frequency and Distress of REM-Related Symptoms (Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis) measured by Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS)
The primary outcome is the change in frequency and subjective distress of hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Symptoms are assessed using the Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS), a validated self-report instrument where each item is scored 0-5; higher scores indicate greater severity. Structured clinical evaluations supplement the NSS to evaluate reductions in REM-related intrusion symptoms and associated emotional burden following the behavioral intervention.
Measured: Baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in Subjective Sleep Quality Assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Subjective sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated self-report instrument consisting of 7 components, each scored 0-3, with a total score range of 0-21. Lower total scores indicate better sleep quality. The measure assessed perceived sleep quality, sleep disturbances, sleep fragmentation, and overall sleep-related impairment. Changes in PSQI scores were used to evaluate improvement in subjective sleep quality following the intervention.
Measured: Baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 May 2026
- Study start1 Mar 2024
- Primary completion1 Jun 2025
- Study completion15 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Narcolepsy Type 1Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Model description
- Participants with narcolepsy type 1 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. The experimental group received six weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy in addition to stable pharmacological treatment. The control group continued standard pharmacological treatment combined with structured clinical follow-up and sleep hygiene psychoeducation focused on sleep-wake regulation, scheduled naps, and healthy sleep habits. Outcomes were assessed longitudinally at baseline, post-treatment, 6 months, and 12 months. The study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design to compare changes in REM-related symptoms, sleep quality, metacognitive dream variables, and quality of life between groups.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 98 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Institute of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Colombia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- IVAN FRANCISCO IF ALVAREZ OROZCO, MD, MS, PhD (c), Study chair, Neumocenter, Valledupar, ColombiaUlises U Jiménez Correa, MS, PhD, Study chair, Seep Disorder Clínic, Research Division, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of MexicoHERNAN ANDRES HA MARIN AGUDELO, MS, PhD, Postdoctoral Research, Principal investigator, BEHAVIORAL SLEEP MEDICINE INSTITUTEJENNY J JURADO HERNANDEZ, MD, MS, Study chair, HOSPITAL MILITAR CENTRAL BOGOTÁLiliana L Estrada Chaverri, MD, MS, Study chair, Sleep Med Costa Rica / Sleep Disorders Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07609537
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IMCS0198646478
- Other IDs
- 98646478
- Acronym
- ICLDR-NAR Tria
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 17 May 2026
- Last updated
- 28 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: There is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD). In accordance with Colombian regulations on personal data protection and processing (Law 1581 of 2012 and related regulations), clinical and sensitive participant information is protected under strict confidentiality, privacy, and restricted data handling principles. Access to study data will be limited to authorized members of the research team and relevant regulatory or ethics authorities, in compliance with applicable regulations and the informed consent provided by participants.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Imagery Control Therapy and Lucid Dreaming for REM-Related Symptoms in Narcolepsy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07609537
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ICLDR-NAR Tria / IMCS0198646478
- Conditions
- Narcolepsy Type 1, Hypnagogic Hallucinations, Sleep Paralysis, REM Sleep Intrusion Symptoms, Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence
- Keywords
- Narcolepsy, REM sleep, Lucid dreaming, Imagery Control Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Hypnagogic hallucinations, Sleep paralysis, REM sleep intrusion
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 98 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Institute of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, ColombiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 27 May 2026 (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.
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.
Detailed description
Detailed Description
Narcolepsy type 1 is a chronic neurological sleep-wake disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and REM sleep dissociation phenomena, including hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Although pharmacological therapies are effective for managing daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, treatment options for REM-related perceptual symptoms remain limited. Hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis are frequently associated with emotional distress, impaired quality of life, anxiety, and sleep disruption.
Lucid dreaming refers to the awareness of dreaming while the dream is occurring and may involve the ability to voluntarily influence dream content. Previous studies have suggested that lucid dreaming training and imagery-based cognitive techniques may reduce emotional distress associated with nightmares and other disturbing dream experiences. Given the high prevalence of lucid dreaming experiences among patients with narcolepsy, these strategies may represent a promising behavioral approach for REM-related symptoms.
This study was designed as a randomized controlled longitudinal trial to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy in patients with narcolepsy type 1. The study was conducted between March 2023 and April 2025 using synchronous telehealth sessions delivered through a secure videoconferencing platform.
A total of 98 participants with clinically and polysomnographically confirmed narcolepsy type 1 were recruited from specialized sleep medicine centers in Colombia and Costa Rica. Eligible participants were adults presenting clinically significant hypnagogic hallucinations and/or sleep paralysis and receiving stable pharmacological treatment. Participants with severe psychiatric disorders, dissociative disorders, or active substance use disorders were excluded.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Experimental group (n = 49): received six weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy in addition to stable pharmacological treatment.
Control group (n = 49): continued standard pharmacological treatment with structured clinical follow-up and sleep hygiene psychoeducation focused on sleep-wake regularity, scheduled naps, healthy sleep habits, and general education about narcolepsy.
The intervention was delivered by trained clinical psychologists specialized in behavioral sleep medicine. Treatment components included:
Psychoeducation about narcolepsy and REM-related symptoms. Dream diary monitoring and dream awareness training. Lucid dreaming induction and maintenance techniques. Reality testing and metacognitive strategies. Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) and imagery restructuring techniques. Emotional regulation and coping strategies within lucid dreams. Relapse prevention and guided autonomous practice.
Primary outcomes were reductions in the frequency and distress associated with hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Secondary outcomes included subjective sleep quality assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), narcolepsy symptom severity assessed with the Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS), dream-related metacognitive variables assessed with the LUCID Scale, and quality of life assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire.
Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests, Cohen's d effect sizes, mixed-effects longitudinal models, and multiple linear regression analyses. Missing data were handled under the missing-at-random assumption using mixed-effects modeling.
The study hypothesized that systematic lucid dreaming training and imagery control techniques would reduce the frequency and emotional distress associated with REM-related symptoms while improving sleep quality, emotional regulation, and quality of life. Preliminary findings demonstrated clinically significant and sustained reductions in REM-related symptoms, improvements in dream-related metacognitive variables, and better subjective sleep quality and emotional well-being in the intervention group compared with controls.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants with narcolepsy type 1 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. The experimental group received six weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy in addition to stable pharmacological treatment. The control group continued standard pharmacological treatment combined with structured clinical follow-up and sleep hygiene psychoeducation focused on sleep-wake regulation, scheduled naps, and healthy sleep habits. Outcomes were assessed longitudinally at baseline, post-treatment, 6 months, and 12 months. The study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design to compare changes in REM-related symptoms, sleep quality, metacognitive dream variables, and quality of life between groups.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: CBT-NAR With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control Therapy | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control TherapyParticipants received six weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) integrating lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy, delivered via synchronous telehealth by trained clinical psychologists specialized in behavioral sleep medicine. The intervention included psychoeducation on narcolepsy and REM-related symptoms, dream diary training, lucid dreaming induction techniques, metacognitive strategies, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), emotional regulation techniques, relapse prevention, and sleep hygiene education focused on sleep-wake regularity and scheduled nap regulation. Participants continued stable pharmacological treatment throughout the study. |
| Active Comparator: Standard Treatment and Sleep Hygiene Education | Active comparator | Behavioral: Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-upParticipants continued stable standard pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy combined with structured clinical follow-up and psychoeducation in sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene education included recommendations regarding sleep-wake schedule regularity, scheduled naps, healthy sleep habits, and general education about narcolepsy. No lucid dreaming training, imagery control techniques, or metacognitive dream interventions were administered to this group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Narcolepsy (CBT-NAR) With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control TherapyA structured six-session behavioral intervention designed for patients with narcolepsy type 1 experiencing REM-related symptoms such as hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. The intervention integrated cognitive behavioral therapy for narcolepsy (CBT-NAR), lucid dreaming training, and imagery control techniques. Components included psychoeducation about narcolepsy and REM sleep physiology, dream diary monitoring, dream awareness training, lucid dreaming induction and maintenance strategies, reality testing, metacognitive techniques, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), emotional regulation strategies, modification of distressing dream content, relapse prevention, and sleep hygiene education focused on sleep-wake regularity and scheduled nap regulation. Sessions were delivered weekly via synchronous telehealth by trained clinical psychologists specialized in behavioral sleep medicine while participants continued stable pharmacological treatment. | Behavioural | Experimental: CBT-NAR With Lucid Dreaming and Imagery Control Therapy |
| Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-upParticipants received structured clinical follow-up and behavioral sleep hygiene psychoeducation while continuing stable pharmacological treatment for narcolepsy. The intervention included education regarding sleep-wake schedule regularity, scheduled naps, healthy sleep habits, management of daytime sleepiness, and general education about narcolepsy and REM-related symptoms. Sessions were delivered remotely through synchronous telehealth contacts with a frequency comparable to routine clinical follow-up. No lucid dreaming training, imagery control techniques, imagery rehearsal therapy, or metacognitive dream interventions were provided in this comparator arm. | Behavioural | Active Comparator: Standard Treatment and Sleep Hygiene Education |
Primary outcome
Change in Frequency and Distress of REM-Related Symptoms (Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis) measured by Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS)
Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.
The primary outcome is the change in frequency and subjective distress of hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Symptoms are assessed using the Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS), a validated self-report instrument where each item is scored 0-5; higher scores indicate greater severity. Structured clinical evaluations supplement the NSS to evaluate reductions in REM-related intrusion symptoms and associated emotional burden following the behavioral intervention.
1 secondary outcome
Change in Subjective Sleep Quality Assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.
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 28 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. There is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD). In accordance with Colombian regulations on personal data protection and processing (Law 1581 of 2012 and related regulations), clinical and sensitive participant information is protected under strict confidentiality, privacy, and restricted data handling principles. Access to study data will be limited to authorized members of the research team and relevant regulatory or ethics authorities, in compliance with applicable regulations and the informed consent provided by participants.
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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.
IVAN FRANCISCO IF ALVAREZ OROZCO, MD, MS, PhD (c) study chair
Neumocenter, Valledupar, Colombia
Ulises U Jiménez Correa, MS, PhD study chair
Seep Disorder Clínic, Research Division, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico
HERNAN ANDRES HA MARIN AGUDELO, MS, PhD, Postdoctoral Research principal investigator
BEHAVIORAL SLEEP MEDICINE INSTITUTE
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sleep Hygiene Education and Structured Clinical Follow-up in people with Narcolepsy Type 1 and Hypnagogic Hallucinations, run by Institute of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Colombia at 1 site in Colombia.
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 6 inclusion and 3 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 28 May 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 Colombia. 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?
Change in Frequency and Distress of REM-Related Symptoms (Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis) measured by Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS) (time frame: Baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.). 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 28 May 2026.