The Nightmare Intervention Study (NIteS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Nightmare Intervention Study: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a brief cognitive behavioural therapy for nightmares for patients with persecutory delusions
IRAS ID
184517
Contact name
Heather House
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Regular nightmares are a common experience for people with psychosis. They are associated with more severe daytime symptoms including delusions, depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal thoughts. Imagery Rehearsal training is a psychological treatment for nightmares which previous research has shown to reduce nightmare frequency, improve sleep quality and also alleviate other daytime psychiatric symptoms (including post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms). However people with psychotic symptoms have typically been excluded from these trials. We will run a pilot randomised controlled trial of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for people with persecutory delusions. The study is designed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. We will recruit 24 participants experiencing nightmares in the context of persecutory delusions. All will be recruited from NHS care teams (from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust) Half will receive the intervention immediately and half will receive the intervention at the end of the study (after 8 weeks). The therapy will be delivered in individual sessions over 4 weeks. Length and number of therapy sessions will be decided based upon patient choice and clinical need. All participants will complete questionnaire assessments of nightmares, sleep and other daytime psychiatric symptoms. These will be at 0 weeks (baseline), 4 weeks (end of therapy) and 8 weeks (follow up). All participants in the immediate intervention group will be invited to complete a qualitative interview to find out more about their experience of nightmares, of the therapy and any changes they notices over the course of therapy.
The study is funded by a Wellcome Trust strategic award to the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0502
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion