Self-exposure treatment of recurrent nightmares: waiting-list-controlled trial and 4-year follow-up.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics January 1, 2006 Silvana Grandi, Stefania Fabbri, Naike Panattoni et al.
Adults with nightmare disorder who attended an outpatient clinic showed no improvement in nightmares and associated symptoms during a 3-month waiting-list period. After receiving a self-exposure manual and following it for 4 weeks, they experienced marked reductions in nightmares, anxiety, depression, hostility, and somatic symptoms. These improvements were maintained over a 4-year follow-up. All 10 participants completed the therapy and follow-up without dropouts. A matched control group without psychiatric disorders had fewer nightmares and symptoms at the start.