Efficacy of Anesthesia-induced Dreaming for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Stanford University
Summary
The goal of this study is to test whether anesthesia-induced dreaming can help alleviate symptoms of PTSD in an (1) open-label trial (Phase I) and (2) double-blind, randomized controlled trial (Phase II) in a non-surgical setting. The investigators predict that inducing and sustaining a dream state prior to emergence from anesthesia will result in reduced symptoms of PTSD. Participants will undergo EEG-guided propofol anesthesia during which they will be either (1) receiving deep sedation leading to loss of responsiveness, designed to elicit dream reports upon emergence (Dream Protocol), and/or (2) light sedation without loss of responsiveness, designed to elicit non-dream experiential reports while responsive (e.g., simple imagery, sounds, thoughts, bodily sensations, hypnagogic-like experiences) (Non-Dream Protocol). The investigators will then investigate whether the deep-sedation Dream Condition is associated with a larger reduction in PTSD symptoms than the light-sedation Non-Dream Condition.
Description
GENERAL BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects millions of Americans, and it can make everyday life very challenging. PTSD is characterized by recurrent distressing memories and nightmares, flashbacks, hyperarousal, and avoidance of things that remind individuals of their traumatic event. Nightmares reflect impaired emotion regulation occurring during sleep. There is evidence that therapeutic applications of dreaming may help target nightmares and other PTSD symptoms because dreaming is involved in memory (re)processing and emotion regulation. There is preliminary evidence t…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: A subject will be eligible for inclusion when all of the following criteria are met: 1. Male or female, 18 to 70 years of age 2. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening. 3. Diagnosed with PTSD prior to screening, according to the criteria defined in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The diagnosis of PTSD will be made by a trained study staff member and supported by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID). 4. Meet the threshold of CAPS-5 score of \>20 during screening…
Interventions
- ProcedurePropofol anesthesia
EEG-guided infusion of anesthestetics
Location
- Stanford UniversityStanford, California