Back to search results

Behavioral Treatment for Nightmares in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

This study is looking into whether a behavioral treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares can help reduce nightmares in adults who have REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD is a sleep disorder where you act out vivid dreams during REM sleep. You can join if you are 18 or older, live in the US, speak English, and have frequent nightmares (at least 3 times a week) along with an RBD diagnosis. Family members living with you can also participate. The study will measure how much your nightmares bother you and how often they occur before and after the treatment. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 20 participants. It will test a behavioral therapy delivered via videoconference.
What's involved
Participants with RBD will attend 7 weekly therapy sessions, and family members will attend 2 of those sessions. You will also complete two assessments.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your nightmare frequency and severity will be measured at the beginning and after the treatment.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06441864

Behavioral Treatment for Nightmares in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Utah
~20 participants
Updated 2026-03-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI)
Measured over Baseline and posttreatment
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Nightmare
Nightmare Disorder With Associated Other Sleep Disorder
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Explore related trials

Nightmare DisorderREM sleep behavior disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Utah1

Who to contact

Jennifer Mundt, PhD
[email protected]
801-646-8287
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Diagnosis of isolated RBD or RBD secondary to neurodegenerative disease
Age 18 or older
Speak, read, and write English
Live in the United States
Nightmare frequency ≥3 times per week
Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index score indicative of nightmare disorder
Sleep, neurological, and psychiatric medications stable for at least 1 month and willing to keep medications stable through the course of the study
Live with a family member who is willing to participate in the study
Live with a family member who meets all of the above criteria
Age 18 or older
Speak, read, and write English
Live in the United States

Exclusion

Possible dementia
Narcolepsy
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Previous behavioral treatment for nightmares
Currently engaged in sleep- or trauma-focused psychotherapy
Taking a medication that could cause RBD, if the medication was started prior to onset of RBD symptoms

What this trial measures

  • Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI)Baseline and posttreatment

    The DDNSI is a questionnaire which measures the severity of nightmares.

  • Nightmare frequency (sleep diary)Baseline and posttreatment

    The number of nightmares experienced each day will be collected on daily sleep diaries completed during each assessment period.