An interventional study of Imagery rehearsal therapy and Targeted dream control in Narcolepsy, Narcolepsy Type 1 and Narcolepsy With Cataplexy, sponsored by Northwestern University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-30.
Sponsored by Northwestern University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to test two behavioral treatments for nightmares in adults with narcolepsy. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Participants will be randomized to one of two treatment groups and will be asked to:
157 studies on the registry are indexed under Narcolepsy; 37 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 7 is below the median of 78 across 114 interventional studies indexed under Narcolepsy.
Browse Narcolepsy studies →Northwestern University is the lead sponsor of 1,423 studies on the registry; 198 are open to participants now.
Of its 105 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 78 (74%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria (all participants):
Inclusion Criteria (Chicago area participants):
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants randomized to this group will receive 7 sessions of IRT.
Behavioral: Imagery rehearsal therapy
Participants randomized to this group will receive 7 sessions of IRT+TDC.
Behavioral: Imagery rehearsal therapy · Behavioral: Targeted dream control
Therapy to reduce nightmares, delivered via videoconference sessions
Also known as: IRT
Therapy to reduce nightmares, delivered in videoconference sessions and lab session. Lab session will involve a sleep study during a daytime nap.
Also known as: TDC
Nightmare Frequency
Frequency of nightmares as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Scale
Measures nightmare severity. Minimum = 0, maximum = 37. Higher scores represent a worse severity of nightmares.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety Scale
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more anxiety symptoms (worse outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression Scale
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more depressive symptoms (worse outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Dream Enactment Frequency
Frequency of dream enactment as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Sleep Talking Frequency
Frequency of sleep talking as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Lucid Dreams Without Control Frequency
Frequency of lucid dreams without control as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Lucid Dreams With Control Frequency
Frequency of lucid dreams with control as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Sleep-related Hallucinations Frequency
Frequency of sleep-related hallucinations as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Sleep Paralysis Frequency
Frequency of sleep paralysis as measured by daily diary
Time frame: Baseline (assessed daily for 2 or 4 weeks) and posttreatment (assessed daily for 2 weeks beginning in week 9 or 11)
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) General Self-Efficacy
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more self-efficacy (better outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Self-Efficacy for Managing Symptoms
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more self-efficacy (better outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Nightmare Disorder Index
Measures nightmare severity. Minimum = 0, maximum = 20. Higher scores represent a worse severity of nightmares.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Measures daytime sleepiness. Minimum = 0, maximum = 24. Higher scores represent worse daytime sleepiness.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Hypersomnia Severity Index
Measures the severity of hypersomnia symptoms. Minimum = 0, maximum = 36. Higher scores represent worse symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10
Measures daytime functioning related to hypersomnia. Minimum = 5, maximum = 20. Higher scores represent better functioning.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Paris Arousal Disorders Severity Scale
Measures the severity of non-REM parasomnia symptoms. Minimum = 0, maximum = 50. Higher scores represent worse symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Lucid Dream Skills Questionnaire (LUSK)
The Lucid Dream Skills Questionnaire (LUSK) measures the frequency of lucid dreaming. The LUSK total score ranges from 0-4 (the mean of the item scores), with higher scores representing a higher frequency of lucid dreaming. In general, a higher frequency of lucid dreaming is not inherently "better" or "worse." For the purpose of this trial, one of the intervention components (Targeted Dream Control) attempted to increase lucid dreaming, so a higher score for this trial would indicate an improvement.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
Dream Delusions Scale
Measures the severity of dream delusions. Minimum = 0, maximum = 12. Higher scores represent worse dream delusions.
Time frame: Baseline and posttreatment (up to 13 weeks)
| Milestone | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Started | 4 | 3 |
| Completed | 3 | 3 |
| Not completed | 1 | 0 |
| Withdrew: Lost to follow-up | 1 | 0 |
Frequency of nightmares as measured by daily diary
| nightmares per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 12.75 ± 8.13 | 4.00 ± 1.39 |
| Posttreatment | 2.00 ± 1.00 | 2.50 ± 2.60 |
Measures nightmare severity. Minimum = 0, maximum = 37. Higher scores represent a worse severity of nightmares.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 23.67 ± 8.02 | 18.33 ± 2.89 |
| Posttreatment | 12.33 ± 4.16 | 5.33 ± 1.15 |
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more anxiety symptoms (worse outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 58.80 ± 10.91 | 50.33 ± 8.03 |
| Posttreatment | 56.53 ± 9.42 | 48.70 ± 4.47 |
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more depressive symptoms (worse outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 56.33 ± 3.69 | 50.27 ± 5.28 |
| Posttreatment | 55.07 ± 4.47 | 47.37 ± 9.19 |
Frequency of dream enactment as measured by daily diary
| dream enactment episodes per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 2.17 ± 2.57 | 1.42 ± 1.28 |
| Posttreatment | 1.00 ± 1.73 | 1.17 ± 1.61 |
Frequency of sleep talking as measured by daily diary
| sleep talking episodes per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 12.92 ± 9.64 | 1.08 ± 1.66 |
| Posttreatment | 0.17 ± 0.29 | 0.83 ± 1.44 |
Frequency of lucid dreams without control as measured by daily diary
| episodes per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 3.83 ± 3.51 | 3.08 ± 3.84 |
| Posttreatment | 1.83 ± 1.44 | 3.67 ± 5.92 |
Frequency of lucid dreams with control as measured by daily diary
| episodes per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 2.42 ± 3.97 | 2.83 ± 4.91 |
| Posttreatment | 3.50 ± 6.06 | 5.67 ± 9.81 |
Frequency of sleep-related hallucinations as measured by daily diary
| sleep-related hallucinations per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 7.58 ± 8.32 | 1.50 ± 2.60 |
| Posttreatment | 1.00 ± 1.00 | 1.17 ± 2.02 |
Frequency of sleep paralysis as measured by daily diary
| sleep paralysis episodes per week | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 2.00 ± 1.80 | 1.00 ± 1.32 |
| Posttreatment | 0.83 ± 1.44 | 0.50 ± 0.00 |
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more self-efficacy (better outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 51.57 ± 7.87 | 49.83 ± 4.74 |
| Posttreatment | 53.97 ± 5.74 | 50.17 ± 6.52 |
Measures symptoms using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) with higher scores reflecting more self-efficacy (better outcome). Population mean (T-score) of 50 with a standard deviation of 10.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 35.77 ± 3.72 | 40.53 ± 1.44 |
| Posttreatment | 40.60 ± 2.95 | 43.13 ± 3.19 |
Measures nightmare severity. Minimum = 0, maximum = 20. Higher scores represent a worse severity of nightmares.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 13.33 ± 1.53 | 11.00 ± 1.73 |
| Posttreatment | 8.33 ± 1.15 | 7.33 ± 1.15 |
Measures daytime sleepiness. Minimum = 0, maximum = 24. Higher scores represent worse daytime sleepiness.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 14.33 ± 4.04 | 19.00 ± 5.00 |
| Posttreatment | 14.00 ± 3.61 | 18.33 ± 5.51 |
Measures the severity of hypersomnia symptoms. Minimum = 0, maximum = 36. Higher scores represent worse symptoms.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 28.67 ± 5.13 | 23.00 ± 4.00 |
| Posttreatment | 25.00 ± 6.08 | 21.33 ± 6.66 |
Measures daytime functioning related to hypersomnia. Minimum = 5, maximum = 20. Higher scores represent better functioning.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 10.78 ± 3.91 | 10.44 ± 1.59 |
| Posttreatment | 12.72 ± 1.58 | 11.17 ± 2.35 |
Measures the severity of non-REM parasomnia symptoms. Minimum = 0, maximum = 50. Higher scores represent worse symptoms.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 19.33 ± 2.31 | 9.67 ± 4.04 |
| Posttreatment | 10.00 ± 1.00 | 6.33 ± 5.51 |
The Lucid Dream Skills Questionnaire (LUSK) measures the frequency of lucid dreaming. The LUSK total score ranges from 0-4 (the mean of the item scores), with higher scores representing a higher frequency of lucid dreaming. In general, a higher frequency of lucid dreaming is not inherently "better" or "worse." For the purpose of this trial, one of the intervention components (Targeted Dream Control) attempted to increase lucid dreaming, so a higher score for this trial would indicate an improvement.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 1.30 ± 1.30 | 1.37 ± 0.74 |
| Posttreatment | 1.27 ± 1.36 | 1.53 ± 0.55 |
Measures the severity of dream delusions. Minimum = 0, maximum = 12. Higher scores represent worse dream delusions.
| score on a scale | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 5.00 ± 1.00 | 1.67 ± 2.89 |
| Posttreatment | 2.67 ± 1.53 | 1.00 ± 1.73 |
Collected over 11-13 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | 0/3 (0%) | 0/3 (0%) | 1/3 (33.3%) |
| Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) | 0/3 (0%) | 0/3 (0%) | 0/3 (0%) |
| Event | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted ankleMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 1/3 | 0/3 |
Completed participants included
| Age, Categorical(Participants) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| <=18 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Between 18 and 65 years | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| >=65 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Male | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) | Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Targeted Dream Control (IRT+TDC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Black or African American | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| More than one race | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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