Imagery rehearsal therapy for the treatment of nightmares in individuals with borderline personality disorder – A pilot study
Journal of Psychiatric Research December 28, 2024 Clara Sayk, Nicole Koch, Janine Stierand et al. 6 citations
Up to 45% of people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience insomnia and nightmares, which worsen emotion regulation, sleep quality, and arousal. Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), the standard treatment for nightmares, had not been tested in BPD. In a pilot study, 22 individuals with BPD received eight sessions of group IRT added to inpatient treatment, and were compared with 22 matched controls. Nightmare symptoms improved significantly during the intervention. The IRT group also showed greater reductions in intrusions, hyperarousal, and anxiety than the control group. IRT appears feasible and may reduce nightmare, trauma, and anxiety symptoms in BPD, though larger randomized trials are needed.