Nightmare Rescripting: Using Imagery Techniques to Treat Sleep Disturbances in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Frontiers in Psychiatry April 4, 2022 Marzia Albanese, Marianna Liotti, Lucia Cornacchia et al. 13 citations
Nightmares affect 8% of the general population and are among the most common symptoms in traumatized individuals, carrying strong predictive and prognostic value for post-traumatic disorders. Sleep disturbances, especially nightmares, can be highly distressing and require targeted interventions, particularly when linked to PTSD. Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is currently the best empirically supported technique for treating traumatic sleep disturbances. This review outlines the incidence and consequences of nightmares in PTSD, explains how IRT can be useful in their treatment, and examines its clinical applications.