Long-term effects of treatment for chronic nightmares: is imagery rehearsal therapy robust in the COVID-19 pandemic?
Caroline Sierro, Wendy Leslie, Benjamin Putois
Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine November 15, 2020 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.8742 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA follow-up of a previous trial found that imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for chronic nightmares remained effective three to five years after treatment, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients who had received IRT maintained reduced nightmare frequency and distress compared to baseline, suggesting the therapy's benefits are robust over time and through stressful life events.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational follow-up Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with chronic nightmares who had previously received imagery rehearsal therapy |
| Intervention | Imagery rehearsal therapy |
| Duration | 3- to 5-year follow-up |
| Key finding | Imagery rehearsal therapy for chronic nightmares showed lasting reductions in nightmare frequency and distress three to five years post-treatment, with effects persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Abstract
Sierro C, Leslie W, Putois B. Long-term effects of treatment for chronic nightmares: is imagery rehearsal therapy robust in the COVID-19 pandemic? J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(11):1993.