Skip to content

Memory reconsolidation impairment using the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol reduces nightmare severity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study

C. Mallet, Christina F. Chick, R. Maatoug, Philippe Fossati, A. Brunet, B. Millet

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine April 12, 2022 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.10010 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Prospective longitudinal study Randomized Peer reviewed
Population Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder recruited as part of the Paris Mémoire Vive Study
Interventions propranolol re-exposure psychotherapy
Duration 6 therapeutic visits plus 2 follow-up visits (2 months after last session)
Topics Dreaming
Registration NCT02789982
Key findings Memory reconsolidation therapy with propranolol reduced nightmare severity from severe to mild, with 85% of patients reporting nightmares at baseline and only 50% after the protocol.

Abstract

Posttraumatic nightmares may exacerbate and perpetuate the daytime symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and might represent a therapeutic target. The therapeutic strategy of memory reconsolidation using the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol associated with re-exposure psychotherapy is a promising treatment in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. Previous studies have established this therapy is effective in reducing overall clinician-assessed posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, but to date no previous study has specifically focused on posttraumatic nightmares in this therapy. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the evolution of nightmare severity during this therapy protocol compared with the decrease of the other posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. It evaluates the incidence of side effects and examines the relative effects on posttraumatic nightmares. Patients were recruited as part of the Paris Mémoire Vive Study. Data were collected using a prospective longitudinal design including 1 baseline visit, 6 therapeutic visits, and 2 follow-up visits. During the 6 therapeutic visits, propranolol was administered orally 60 to 75 minutes prior to the psychotherapeutic session. On average, nightmare severity decreased from “severe” to “mild” during the protocol and remained stable 2 months after the last session. Whereas 85% of patients reported nightmares at baseline, only 50% still had them after the protocol. The protocol was generally well tolerated and did not increase nightmare severity for any patient in the study. Memory reconsolidation therapy with propranolol seems promising in reducing nightmare severity, up to and including remission. However, research using a randomized controlled design and assessing maintenance of nightmare extinction is warranted. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Using Reconsolidation Blockade to Treat Trauma Related Disorders After Paris Attacks: An Effectiveness Study (PARIS-MEM); Identifier: NCT02789982; URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02789982. Mallet C, Chick CF, Maatoug R, Fossati P, Brunet A, Millet B. Memory reconsolidation impairment using the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol reduces nightmare severity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(7):1847–1855.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on dreaming, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Lucid Dreaming: a State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming Student volunteers trained to become lucid and signal lucidity with horizontal eye... 2009 Observational study n = 6
Nightmare Prevalence, Nightmare Distress, and Self-Reported Psychological Disturbance Young adults with a mean age of 20 years 2002 Prospective observational study n = 116
Long-term effects of extreme situational stress on sleep and dreaming Survivors of traumatic events who complained of sleep disturbances, compared with... 1987 Case-control study n = 11
The relationship of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress to well‐being Adults who reported dreams 2004 Observational cohort n = 147
Dreaming in NREM Sleep: A High-Density EEG Study of Slow Waves and Spindles Healthy human subjects 2018 Observational cohort n = 14

Citations in the library

Cited by 1

Cites 4

Related reading

Explore topics

Dreaming