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)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | 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.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| Sleep and dreaming are for important matters | 2013 | Review | |
| Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis | 2020 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors | 1996 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- The Impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies for Nightmares and Prazosin on the Reduction of Post-Traumatic Nightmares, Sleep, and PTSD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis of Randomized and Non‐Randomized Studies InTech eBooks November 2, 2016
- Psychotherapy Using Images for Nightmares in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Kyushu Neuropsychiatry 2014
- Memory reconsolidation impairment using the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol reduces nightmare severity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine April 12, 2022
- Management of Post-Traumatic Nightmares: a Review of Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments Since 2013. Current Psychiatry Reports October 11, 2018
Cites 12
- Treatment of nightmares in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder Journal of Clinical Psychology September 23, 2010
- Nightmares in the Context of PTSD Treated with Psychoeducation Regarding Lucid Dreaming Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry May 20, 2010
- Physiological predictors of response to exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy for chronic nightmares in a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine December 1, 2011
- Long-term effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural self-help intervention for nightmares. Journal of Sleep Research September 1, 2011
- Treating nightmares and insomnia in posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of current evidence. Neuropharmacology March 17, 2011
and 7 more in the library