Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review
BMC Psychiatry April 21, 2023 Peter Gill, Emily Fraser, Thong Thai Diep Tran et al. 21 citations
Treatments for nightmares are most effective when they help people gain a sense of control by directly addressing nightmare content or their emotional responses to it. A systematic review of 69 studies (35 randomized controlled trials and 34 non-randomized trials) found strong evidence that exposure and image rehearsal therapies reduce nightmare frequency, severity, and distress across civilian, military, idiopathic, and PTSD populations. Emerging evidence supports self-guided and brief treatment options. There is an urgent need for clinical trials in children.