Induction of Dreaming With EEG and Anesthesia for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Part of paid clinical trials in Stanford, California.

Sponsor
Stanford University
Study ID
NCT06577636
Phase
PHASE2
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 70 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Propofol anesthesia — PROCEDURE
    EEG-guided infusion of anesthestetics

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 21, 2025
Status verified
Sep 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026
Completion
Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
42 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Dream Experiences Group
    This group (n=21) will be subjected to an emergence-from-loss of responsiveness (LOR) protocol intended to elicit dream reports.
  • Sham Comparator: Non-Dream Experiences Group
    This Group (n=21) will be subjected to a light sedation without loss of responsiveness protocol, designed to elicit non-dream experiential reports while responsive.
  • Experimental: Open-label anesthesia protocol
    All participants (n = 15) will be subjected to an emergence-from-loss of responsiveness (LOR) protocol intended to elicit dream reports AND to a light sedation without loss of responsiveness protocol intended to elicit non-dream experiential reports while responsive.

Primary Outcome Measure

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) [ Time Frame: 1 month post-intervention ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Stanford UniversityStanfordCalifornia94305
Boris D Heifets, MD, PhD
[email protected]
917 620 4241

Find similar trials in Stanford, CA

By condition
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
By specialty
PsychiatryMental healthBehavioral health
By research site
Stanford University· Stanford, CA

Related Studies