Sound sleep hack may double power of PTSD nightmare therapy
NCT ID NCT05933109
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new way to make nightmare therapy more effective for people with PTSD. 46 adults practiced changing their nightmares during the day (imagery rehearsal therapy). While they slept, half of them heard a sound linked to their new, positive dream ending. The idea was to strengthen that positive memory during REM sleep. Researchers measured PTSD and nightmare severity before and up to 3 months after treatment to see if the sound group improved more.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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46 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2023
- Finished
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Oct 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * with untreated persistent PTSD according to DSM-5 (\> 1 month), suffering from chronic nightmares * with no active specific treatment for PTSD Exclusion Criteria: * patients with active specific treatment for PTSD * patients with neurological disorders
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Center for Sleep Medicine
Geneva, Switzerland
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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