Group Psychotherapy in Narcolepsy Type 1

Effectiveness of Group Psychotherapy in Patients With Narcolepsy Type 1

The aim of this pilot study is to test the benefit of behavior therapy-oriented, method-integrated psychotherapy in an outpatient group setting in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Therefore we collect and evaluate initial data on its effectiveness on the disease in terms of specific symptomatology, emotion regulation, health-related quality of life, and disease processing/acceptance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed narcolepsy type 1 according to AASM, examined by an experienced sleep physician including history, clinical examination, polysomnographic examination (PSG) with a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), possibly also including determination of HLA DQB1 * 062 and orexin A / hypocretin 1
• Age between 18 and 65 years
• Signed informed consent
• Exclusion of other clinically relevant organic sleep disorders by means of polysomnography (AHI>10/h)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of severe psychiatric comorbidity
• Other psychotherapy during the study period
• Change of medication used for narcolepsy therapy shortly before the start and during the study period including follow-up measurement. In this case, patients may still complete group therapy, but the data will not be included in the analysis.