EMDR Treatment of Trauma-Related Recurrent Nightmares: A Case Report
Turkish Journal of Traumatic Stress January 31, 2026 DOI: 10.63175/tjts.58 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 31-year-old man with recurrent nightmares stemming from adverse experiences in a military high school was treated with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Though he did not meet full criteria for PTSD, his nightmares involved intense fear, helplessness, and autonomic arousal. EMDR was delivered across three weekly sessions using the standard eight-phase protocol with bilateral eye movements. Trauma-related emotional distress and nightmare frequency markedly decreased within one week and ceased entirely, with symptom remission maintained at three-month follow-up. This case suggests EMDR may be useful for isolated trauma-related nightmares linked to adolescent experiences.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 31-year-old male with recurring nightmares linked to adverse adolescent experiences in a military high school |
| Duration | Three weekly sessions, with three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Distressing Arousal Desensitization medicine Psychotherapist |
| Key finding | EMDR therapy reduced trauma-related emotional distress and eliminated nightmare frequency within one week, with remission maintained at three-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Recurrent nightmares are a distressing manifestation of trauma-related disorders and can persist even in the absence of full post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This case report describes the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment of a 31-year-old male presenting with a recurring nightmare involving an identical scenario. The nightmare was characterized by intense fear, helplessness, and autonomic arousal and was linked to adverse adolescent experiences in a military high school. Although the patient did not meet full DSM-5-TR criteria for PTSD, the nightmares were conceptualized as a trauma-related sleep disturbance within the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) framework. EMDR therapy was delivered using the standard eight-phase protocol across three weekly sessions with bilateral eye movements. Trauma-related emotional distress associated with the targeted memories and nightmares was substantially reduced following treatment. Nightmare frequency markedly decreased within one week and ceased entirely thereafter, with symptom remission maintained at three-month follow-up. This case highlights the potential utility of EMDR in treating isolated trauma-related nightmares rooted in adolescent experiences.