Distressing dreams or nightmares about a traumatic experience are common among trauma-exposed individuals and contribute to the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Like other intrusive reexperiencing symptoms, trauma-related nightmares are characterized by vivid sensory details and heightened emotional intensity. However, little is known about their underlying...
We review the recent published literature on nightmare-focused interventions, including imagery rehearsal therapy, for trauma-exposed adult populations. Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) and prazosin remain the most supported treatments, though results vary across studies. New consensus guidelines have led to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBT-N), which integrates rescripting,...