Imagery Control Therapy and Lucid Dreaming for REM-Related Symptoms in Narcolepsy

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention based on lucid dreaming training and imagery control therapy for reducing REM-related symptoms in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Specifically, the study examined the impact of the intervention on hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis, which are common and distressing symptoms associated with REM sleep intrusions in narcolepsy. Ninety-eight adults with confirmed narcolepsy type 1 were randomly assigned to either an experimental intervention group or a control group receiving standard pharmacological treatment, structured clinical follow-up, and sleep hygiene psychoeducation. The intervention consisted of six weekly 90-minute telehealth sessions integrating psychoeducation, dream awareness training, lucid dreaming induction techniques, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), metacognitive strategies, emotional regulation, and relapse prevention. Primary outcomes included changes in the frequency and distress associated with hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Secondary outcomes included subjective sleep quality, metacognitive dream-related variables, and quality of life. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up evaluations. The study aimed to determine whether behavioral interventions targeting dream awareness, emotional regulation, and metacognitive control could complement pharmacological treatment and improve REM-related symptoms and sleep-related quality of life in narcolepsy.

NCT Number	NCT07609537
Lead Sponsor	Institute of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Colombia
Conditions	Narcolepsy Type 1, Hypnagogic Hallucinations, Sleep Paralysis, REM Sleep Intrusion Symptoms, Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence
Enrollment	98 participants
Start Date	2024-03-01
Primary Completion	2025-06-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-06-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-28