Intrusive Memories, PTSD
Conditions
Keywords
sleep, memory, consolidation
Brief summary
Intrusive memories represent a debilitating core feature of PTSD, one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders following trauma. Exposure therapy is amongst the most successful treatments of PTSD that is recommended by most of the current national and international guidelines. The current study aims to test whether sleep as adjunct to written exposure sessions, a type of exposure- based treatment for PTSD, may boost the effectiveness of the therapy.
Detailed description
Intrusive memories represent a debilitating core feature of PTSD, one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders following trauma. Exposure therapy is amongst the most successful treatments of PTSD that is recommended by most of the current national and international guidelines. However, not all patients benefit equally and only about 50% show sustained response. There is thus room for improvement in terms of (i) better understanding who benefits from this type of therapy and (ii) possible ways of augmenting existing trauma-focused therapies. The current study aims to contribute to these endevours. Specifically, the study aims to test whether sleep as adjunct to written exposure sessions, a type of exposure- based treatment for PTSD, may boost the effectiveness of the therapy.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSleep/Nap
Participants sleep after a maximum of three sessions of exposure therapy.
Sponsors
Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich
University of Zurich
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Psychotherapists and outcome assessors are blind to participants' group membership (i.e., sleep versus wake after exposure therapy)
Intervention model description
Randomised controlled trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* DSM V criteria of PTSD (at least moderate symptoms in two categories) * Currently receiving Written Exposure Therapy at one of the psychotherapy centers at the Psychiatric University Clinic (PUC). * Not more than moderate alcohol consumption (not more than 5 alcoholic drinks/week). * Ability to understand the study instructions
Exclusion criteria
* Travel over \> 3 time zones in \< 3 months * head injury * shift work * current substance abuse * neurological disease * drug addiction * Current suicidality Specific
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-reported Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 month | One month post- treatment | Self - reported PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5) |
| Clinician- assessed Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 week | One week post- treatment | Clinician- assessed PTSD symptom severity (CAPS- 5) |
| Self-reported Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 week | One week post- treatment | Self - reported PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5) |
| Clinician- assessed Posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 1 month | One month post- treatment | Clinician- assessed PTSD symptom severity (CAPS- 5) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total sleep time | Immediately after written exposure therapy | Total sleep time according to EEG |
| Time spent in N1 sleep | Immediately after written exposure therapy | N1 time according to EEG |
| Time spent in N2 sleep | Immediately after written exposure therapy | N2 time according to EEG |
| Time spent in N3 sleep | Immediately after written exposure therapy | N3 time according to EEG |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed