Understanding and Treating Nightmares: A Comprehensive Review of Psychosocial Strategies for Adults and Children.
Namita Sahu, Pradeep S Patil, Asmita -, Imyarila Longkumer
Cureus September 1, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.70044 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Cognitive behavioral therapy imagery rehearsal therapy mindfulness-based therapies |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Mental health Nightmares Psychosocial interventions Sleep disturbances |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Psychosocial interventions such as CBT, IRT, and mindfulness-based therapies are effective non-pharmacological strategies for managing nightmares by reducing their frequency and intensity and improving sleep quality. |
Abstract
Nightmares are distressing dreams that evoke strong negative emotions, such as fear or anxiety, often leading to waking from sleep and subsequent sleep disruption. They are prevalent across various age groups, with significant psychological and physiological health implications. This review explores the nature of nightmares, distinguishing them from other sleep disturbances like night terrors and sleep paralysis. It examines the prevalence of nightmares in children and adults, highlighting their impact on mental health and daily functioning. The review also emphasizes the importance of addressing nightmares through effective treatment strategies. While pharmacological options are available, psychosocial interventions offer promising non-pharmacological solutions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), and mindfulness-based therapies are discussed as key approaches for managing nightmares. These strategies focus on altering maladaptive thought patterns and emotional responses, reducing nightmares' frequency and intensity, and improving overall sleep quality. Psychosocial interventions provide a comprehensive approach to treating nightmares by addressing the underlying cognitive and emotional factors, benefitting individuals across different age groups. This review aims to highlight the efficacy of these strategies and their role in enhancing the quality of life for those affected by persistent nightmares.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| Sleep and dreaming are for important matters | 2013 | Review | |
| Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis | 2020 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors | 1996 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Direct and Indirect Associations Between War‐Related Nightmares, Anxiety‐Depression Symptoms, and Somatization in a Sample of Displaced Lebanese Adults During the 2024–2025 Lebanese War: A Cross‐Sectional Study Health science reports October 1, 2026
- Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Nightmares in Children: A Pediatric Psychological Integration 2025 IEEE 2nd International Conference on Computing, Applications and Systems October 23, 2025
Cites 18
- Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives Journal of Sleep Research January 29, 2019
- Nightmares in Patients with Psychosis: The Relation with Sleep, Psychotic, Affective, and Cognitive Symptoms The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry August 1, 2015
- Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis Neurotherapeutics November 23, 2020
- Nightmares affect the experience of sleep quality but not sleep architecture: an ambulatory polysomnographic study Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation February 12, 2015
- Nightmares in the general population: identifying potential causal factors Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology July 15, 2017
and 13 more in the library