Management of post-traumatic nightmares: a review of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments since 2010.
Monica Escamilla, Mercedes LaVoy, Bret A Moore, Barry Krakow
Current Psychiatry Reports October 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-012-0306-7 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNightmares affect most healthy adults and many clinical populations, especially trauma survivors. Over the past decade, treatments for post-traumatic nightmares have advanced. The medication prazosin shows strong clinical effects with few side effects. Among psychological approaches, imagery rehearsal therapy has the most research support due to its proven effectiveness. This review covers these treatments and suggests directions for future research.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Prazosin shows robust clinical effects with minimal side effects for post-traumatic nightmares, and imagery rehearsal therapy has established efficacy in the nightmare literature. |
Abstract
Nightmares are a universal and timeless phenomenon. They occur in most healthy adults as well as a significant portion of clinical populations, especially those exposed to trauma. Considerable advances in the pharmacological and psychological treatment of post-traumatic nightmares have occurred over the last decade with continuing advances in psychological interventions over the last few years. Pharmacologically, the medication prazosin is showing robust clinical effects with minimal side effects. Psychologically, imagery rehearsal therapy commands the greater portion of the nightmare literature due to its established efficacy. These issues are reviewed in the following paper along with recommendations for future studies.