Imagery rehearsal therapy for frequent nightmares in children.
Behavioral Sleep Medicine January 1, 2009 Mélanie St-Onge, Pierre Mercier, Joseph De Koninck
Imagery rehearsal therapy reduced nightmare frequency in children aged 9 to 11 with frequent primary nightmares. Twenty children without PTSD were randomly assigned to treatment or a waiting list. The treated group showed a significant decrease in nightmare frequency compared to the waiting-list group, and this reduction lasted over a 9-month follow-up. Effects on distress after nightmares could not be measured due to few nightmares, and overall nightmare distress was not significantly reduced. The therapy appears promising for reducing nightmare occurrence, though further research is needed to confirm its effect on distress.