CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT01220401Updated Apr 30, 2019Results posted

Efficacy of a Brief Nightmare Treatment for Veterans

An interventional study of exposure, relaxation, and rescription therapy in Sleep Disorders, PTSD and Suicide, sponsored by University of Tulsa. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-04-30.

Sponsored by University of Tulsa · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
21
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 99 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to find out what effects Exposure, Rescripting, and Relaxation Therapy (ERRT) has on nightmares and associated problems in veterans.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of the proposed pilot study is to extend previous findings regarding the impact of a brief cognitive behavioral treatment for chronic nightmares by examining the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and health-related changes following treatment. Experiencing a traumatic event may initiate or exacerbate the occurrence of nightmares. Indeed, sleep disturbance, including nightmares, is considered a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nightmares have been related to a variety of factors including stress, medications, trauma, and substance use. Among veterans, especially combat veterans or those reporting sexual assaults, symptoms of traumatic stress and nightmares are extremely common. Few studies have investigated the efficacy of nightmare treatment in a veteran population, and the impact of nightmare treatment on suicidal ideation has never been assessed.

Imagery Rehearsal Treatment (IRT) has received increased attention in the past decade for use with chronic nightmares. Studies suggest that the treatment is promising for the reduction of frequency and intensity of chronic nightmares in trauma exposed persons and may have a generalized impact on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression and quality/quantity of sleep, although there is mixed evidence for sleep improvement among veterans. The principal investigator has completed two randomized controlled trials of a modified version of IRT, Exposure, Rescripting, and Relaxation Treatment (ERRT) and is currently conducting a third randomized controlled trial (Davis, 2008; Davis \& Wright, 2007). The current randomized controlled trial is comparing ERRT to an active treatment (relaxation). Results demonstrated positive treatment response. Although these trials have included some veteran participants, veterans have not been studied as a group using this protocol. The purpose of this prospective study is to conduct a pre- and post-treatment comparison of suicidal ideation and posttraumatic, depressive, and health symptoms in a single group of veterans.

02

Conditions studied

  • Sleep Disorders
  • PTSD
  • Suicide

Keywords

  • Nightmare
  • PTSD
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • Suicide
  • Exposure Relaxation Rescription Therapy
  • Sleep
03

In context

Sleep Wake Disorders

788 studies on the registry are indexed under Sleep Wake Disorders; 186 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 21 is below the median of 62 across 548 interventional studies indexed under Sleep Wake Disorders.

Browse Sleep Wake Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Tulsa is the lead sponsor of 11 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 99 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: veteran/military, 18+ years old, english proficiency, nightmares once per week, exposure to a criterion A traumatic event -

Exclusion Criteria: under 18, psychotic illness, mental retardation, imminent suicidal intent

-

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
21 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    ERRT-M

    Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy for military populations. 4 sessions.

    Behavioral: exposure, relaxation, and rescription therapy

Interventions

  • Behavioralexposure, relaxation, and rescription therapy

    veterans reporting chronic nightmares at least once per week for the past month who consent to participate will attend four consecutive weekly sessions lasting approximately two hours each. Participants will log their sleep events and associated symptoms (i.e. PTSD, depression, etc.)

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Nights With Nightmares

    This fill-in-the-blank variable assesses the number of nights the individual experienced nightmares in the past week (range = 0 - 7 nights). Higher values indicate more nights with nightmares (worse outcome).

    Time frame: pre, one week, two months

  2. Clinician Administered PTSD Scale

    This semi-structured clinical interview assesses each of 17 DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD utilizing separate queries for frequency and severity on a 5-point scale (0 - 4). This study utilized the "FI/I2" rule, where frequency ratings of one or more and intensity ratings of two or more must be present in order for a symptom to count towards diagnosis. Total scores are comprised of the three factors (reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal), with 136 being the maximum. 0-19 = asymptomatic or few symptoms. 20-39 = mild PTSD, subthreshold. 40-59 = moderate PTSD at threshold. 60-79 = severe PTSD. 80+ = extreme PTSD.

    Time frame: pre, one week, two months

  3. Past Week Nightmare Frequency

    This fill-in-the-blank variable assesses the number of nightmares experienced in the past week (range = 0 - X nightmares). Higher values indicate more nightmares (worse outcome).

    Time frame: pre, one week, two months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Beck Depression Inventory

    This 21-item, self-report measure was designed to assess the severity of depression among adults. Responses on a Likert-type scale range from 0 - 3, and scores may be summed to derive a total score (0-63), with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. Scores of 18 and above have been suggested to reliably identify depressed patients.

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 2 months

07

Results

Posted Aug 8, 2014

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneERRT-M
Started21
Completed18
Not completed3
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject2
Withdrew: Protocol violation1

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Nights With Nightmares

This fill-in-the-blank variable assesses the number of nights the individual experienced nightmares in the past week (range = 0 - 7 nights). Higher values indicate more nights with nightmares (worse outcome).

Time frame:
pre, one week, two months
Reported as:
Mean · nights/week
Number of Nights With Nightmares
nights/weekERRT-M
Baseline Nights with Nightmares2.61 ± 1.79
1-week Nights with Nightmare.83 ± 1.20
2-month Nights with Nightmare0.97 ± 1.23
PrimaryClinician Administered PTSD Scale

This semi-structured clinical interview assesses each of 17 DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD utilizing separate queries for frequency and severity on a 5-point scale (0 - 4). This study utilized the "FI/I2" rule, where frequency ratings of one or more and intensity ratings of two or more must be present in order for a symptom to count towards diagnosis. Total scores are comprised of the three factors (reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal), with 136 being the maximum. 0-19 = asymptomatic or few symptoms. 20-39 = mild PTSD, subthreshold. 40-59 = moderate PTSD at threshold. 60-79 = severe PTSD. 80+ = extreme PTSD.

Time frame:
pre, one week, two months
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale
units on a scaleERRT-M
Baseline TOTAL PTSD50.72 ± 24.60
1-week TOTAL PTSD46.44 ± 27.62
2-month TOTAL PTSD43.00 ± 23.10
SecondaryBeck Depression Inventory

This 21-item, self-report measure was designed to assess the severity of depression among adults. Responses on a Likert-type scale range from 0 - 3, and scores may be summed to derive a total score (0-63), with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. Scores of 18 and above have been suggested to reliably identify depressed patients.

Time frame:
Baseline, 1 week, 2 months
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Beck Depression Inventory
units on a scaleERRT-M
Baseline Depression27.61 ± 11.72
1-week Depression18.94 ± 8.90
2-month Depression22.11 ± 11.11
PrimaryPast Week Nightmare Frequency

This fill-in-the-blank variable assesses the number of nightmares experienced in the past week (range = 0 - X nightmares). Higher values indicate more nightmares (worse outcome).

Time frame:
pre, one week, two months
Reported as:
Mean · nightmares/week
Past Week Nightmare Frequency
nightmares/weekERRT-M
Baseline Nightmare Frequency (# in past week)2.97 ± 1.78
1 Week Nightmare Frequency (# in past week)1.17 ± 1.48
2 Month Nightmare Frequency (# in past week)1.03 ± 1.30

Adverse events

Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
ERRT-M—0/21 (0%)0/21 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Customized
Age, Customized(years)ERRT-M
Mean56.6 ± 12.5
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)ERRT-M
Female5
Male16
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)ERRT-M
American Indian or Alaska Native1
Asian0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American0
White14
More than one race6
Unknown or Not Reported0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)ERRT-M
United States21
08

Study locations

1 site
  • The University of Tulsa
    Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, United States
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 30, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01220401
Lead sponsor
University of Tulsa
Responsible party
Joanne Davis (PI, University of Tulsa) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 13, 2010
Start date
Oct 2010
Primary completion
Aug 2011
Completion
Aug 2011
Results posted
Aug 8, 2014
Last update
Apr 30, 2019

Study contacts

Noelle Balliett, MA
principal investigator · The University of Tulsa

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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