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Behavioural Intervention

Dream Group for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (IDEA_PTSD Trial)

Phase 2
Waitlist Available
Led By Boris D Heifets, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by Stanford University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
1. Male or female, 18 to 70 years of age
2. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening.
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 1 month post-intervention
Awards & highlights

Summary

The goal of this study is to test the efficacy of anesthesia-induced dreaming for PTSD in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in a non-surgical setting (Phase II). The investigators predict that inducing and sustaining a dream state prior to emergence from anesthesia will result in reduced symptoms of PTSD. Half of the participants will be randomly allocated to a Dream Group, while the other half will be in the No-Dream group.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Participants should be healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Specific details about inclusion and exclusion criteria are not provided, but typically these would outline who can or cannot participate based on health conditions, medications, or other factors.
What is being tested?
The study is testing if using Propofol anesthesia to induce dreams can help reduce PTSD symptoms. It's a Phase II trial where participants are split into two groups: one experiences induced dreaming ('Dream Group'), while the other does not ('No-Dream group'). The allocation is random and both participants and researchers do not know who is in which group (double-blind).
What are the potential side effects?
While specific side effects of the intervention are not listed here, generally Propofol anesthesia may cause reactions such as pain at injection site, low blood pressure, drowsiness after waking up, and in rare cases more serious effects like allergic reactions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~1 month post-intervention
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 1 month post-intervention for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
Secondary study objectives
Number of Participants With Clinical Response
Number of Participants With Remission
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: Dream GroupActive Control1 Intervention
Dream Group (n=21) will be subjected to an anesthetic protocol resulting in dream experiences during anesthesia.
Group II: No-Dream GroupPlacebo Group1 Intervention
No-Dream Group (n=21) will be subjected to an anesthetic protocol resulting in no dream experiences during anesthesia.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Stanford UniversityLead Sponsor
2,414 Previous Clinical Trials
17,462,989 Total Patients Enrolled
Tiny Blue Dot FoundationUNKNOWN
5 Previous Clinical Trials
399 Total Patients Enrolled
Boris D Heifets, MD, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorStanford University
1 Previous Clinical Trials
45 Total Patients Enrolled
~28 spots leftby Dec 2026
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