1056 Targeted Dream Incubation’s Impact on Dream Self-Efficacy, Nightmares, Suicide, PTSD, and Insomnia
Westley Youngren, Victoria West Staples, Emma Angle, Adam Horowitz, Michelle Carr, Karen R Konkoly, Guillermo Bernal, Robert Stickgold
Sleep May 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsag091.1055 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled trial with two TDI groups and a nap control group Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Adults, including those with and without frequent trauma-related nightmares |
| Intervention | Targeted Dream Incubation |
| Duration | Single 90-minute session, with follow-up at one week |
| Topics | Dreaming PTSD |
| Keywords | Dream Nap Insomnia Analysis of variance Mental health Clinical psychology Attribution Sample size determination Sample material Audiology Developmental psychology |
| Key findings | Targeted Dream Incubation increased dream self-efficacy immediately and at one-week follow-up, and in the non-nightmare group it also reduced thoughts of suicide, insomnia, PTSD, and nightmare distress. |
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Targeted Dream Incubation (TDI) is the process of giving an individual auditory cues (i.e., “think of a tree”) while they are falling asleep, with the goal of shaping dream content (into something such as a tree). Recent research has demonstrated TDI may be able to increase dream self-efficacy (DSE) and influence other mental health outcomes. Thus, our study explored how TDI impacted DSE, nightmare distress, PTSD, insomnia, and thoughts of suicide in a non-clinical sample and a sample that experiences frequent trauma-related nightmares (TRNs).
Methods: Our study included N = 30 participants; n = 20 received one 90-minunte session of TDI and n = 10 received one 90-minute nap instead of TDI. Within the TDI condition there were two groups, one group that experienced TRNs (n = 10) and one group that did not (n = 10). All participants completed surveys immediately prior to TDI or nap (baseline), immediately after TDI or nap (post), and one-week after completing TDI or nap (follow-up). ANOVAs were used to analyze the differences in DSE among our groups. Paired sample t-tests were used to examine changes in our outcome variables between baseline, post, and follow-up.
Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences in DSE among any groups (p > .05). The control group saw no changes in DSE across any timepoints, but both TDI groups saw significant (p < .05) increases in DSE immediately after TDI (t = -1.85) and at one-week follow-up (t = -3.60). Regarding outcomes, only the TDI-NM group had any significant changes. Specifically, at the follow-up they had significant (p < .05) reductions in thoughts of suicide (t = 2.11), insomnia (t = 1.93), PTSD (t = 2.92), and nightmare distress (t = 3.88).
Conclusion: Our results support previous research, by demonstrating that TDI can increase DSE. Furthermore, our results suggest that TDI may be able to significantly reduce several negative outcomes variables within individuals experiencing trauma related nightmares, potentially through the intervening variable of DSE. These results justify a further large-scale investigation into the relationship between TDI, DSE, and negative outcomes in a sample that experiences TRNs. Support (if any)