Efficacy of Anesthesia-induced Dreaming for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
⁃ A subject will be eligible for inclusion when all of the following criteria are met:
• Male or female, 18 to 70 years of age
• Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening.
• Diagnosed with PTSD prior to screening, according to the criteria defined in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The diagnosis of PTSD will be made by a trained study staff member and supported by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID).
• Meet the threshold of CAPS-5 score of \>20 during screening.
• In sufficiently good health to proceed with a low-risk elective procedure, characterized using the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system as Class I or II.
• If female, a status of non-childbearing potential or use of an acceptable form of birth control
• Body mass index between 17-35 kg/m2.