Imagery rehearsal therapy for posttraumatic nightmares in U.S. veterans.
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2009 Mary Lu, Amy Wagner, Lynn Van Male et al.
Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) may help reduce residual nightmares and PTSD symptoms in male U.S. veterans who had not previously completed trauma-focused PTSD treatment. Fifteen veterans attended 6 IRT group sessions. No benefits were seen immediately after treatment, but at 3- and 6-month follow-up, trauma-related nightmare frequency decreased from baseline. At 3 months, the number of trauma-related nightmares per week, total nightmares per week, and PTSD symptoms also decreased. Nightmare severity and fear of sleep improved over time. No effects were found on the impact of nightmares, sleep quality, or depression.