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Case Report: Why Sleep and Dream Related Psychological Treatments, Such as Sleepcoaching (According to Holzinger&Klösch) and CBT-I Should Be Implemented in Treatment Concepts in the Public Health System-Description of the Nightmare Treatment Process in the Context of PTSD.

Brigitte Holzinger, Franziska Nierwetberg, Gerhard Klösch

Frontiers in Psychology 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.733911 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population Woman diagnosed with severe PTSD suffering from recurrent nightmares
Intervention Lucid dreaming training
Duration 6-week intervention
Topics Lucid dreaming PTSD Dreaming
Keywords Cbt-i Dreams Nightmares Public health Sleepcoaching
Citations 2
Key findings Six weeks of lucid dreaming training helped the patient change her dream plots and improve psychological measures.

Abstract

In this case report, we explain the story of a woman diagnosed with severe PTSD, suffering from recurrent nightmares involving a traumatizing event. She participated in 6 week lucid dreaming training to help her reduce her nightmare frequency. Our descriptions include her dream reports as well as the results of the psychological assessment conducted. In only 6 weeks, she was able to begin to change her dream plots and to improve several of the psychological measures. In this case, we stated that paying more attention to sleep and, especially nightmares, not only in patients with PTSD, should be standard in treatment processes for psychiatric disorders. We, therefore, underpin our case with literature that explains the benefits of treatments, specifically for sleep problems that do not involve medication.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on PTSD, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Combining Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD with 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): A Case Example. One couple with PTSD and a severe trauma history, participating in a pilot trial... 2019 Case study n = 2
Effects of intranasal (S)-ketamine on Veterans with co-morbid treatment-resistant depression and PTSD: A retrospective case series Veterans with co-morbid depression and PTSD 2022 Retrospective case series n = 35
Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder Patients with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid PTSD 2023 Case series n = 5
Treatment of nightmares in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder A client with chronic, severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2010 Case study n = 1
5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study 23-year-old female with chronic refractory PTSD 2023 Case study n = 1

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