Topic: Mental Health
Conditions
Interventions
Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups.
Group 1: Participants will receive individual sessions of CBT for nightmares, delivered over a period of four weeks. The
Sponsors
University of Oxford
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Currently experiencing one or more nightmares per week 2. A current persecutory delusion, as defined by Freeman and Garety (2000) 3. A cut off of 33 or above on part A or B on the Green Paranoid Thoughts Scale (Green et al., 2008). 4. Nightmares are at least moderately distressing (on a 7 point Likert scale, scoring at least 4). 5. Nightmares have been present for at least three months (i.e. chronic). 6. Aged between 18 and 65 years 7. A clinical diagnosis of non-affective psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified) 8. Stable medication (both drug and dose) for at least four weeks and no planned medication changes. Where medication changes are planned, the patient will wait until medication has been stable before entering the trial.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Screen positive for sleep apnoea with no history of having received a full assessment and / or treatment. If receiving optimal treatment for sleep apnoea, the patient will be invited to take part. 2. Primary diagnosis of personality disorder, alcohol or substance dependency 3. An organic syndrome or learning disability 4. A command of spoken English inadequate for completing questionnaire measures, or engaging in therapy 5. Currently receiving cognitive behavioural therapy or due to commence within the time frame of the trial 6. Nightmares that are considered to be a side effect of medication by the treating psychiatrist
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. To assess trial methodology including the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention and recruitment and retention rates. This will be measured by the number of sessions used, uptake of therapy, sessions required, participant satisfaction and trial dropout rates. 2. Nightmare severity will be measured using the Distressing Dreams and Nightmare Severity Index measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Psychological wellbeing will be measured using the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks 2. Persecutory beliefs will be measured using the Green Paranoid Thoughts Scale at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks 3. Hallucinatory experiences will be measured using the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks 4. Affect will be measured using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 item version measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks 5. Symptoms of insomnia will be measured using the Sleep Condition Indicator at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks 6. Sleep quality will be measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks 7. Dissociative symptoms will be measured using the Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed