Conquering nightmares on the phone: one-session counseling using imagery rehearsal therapy
Katharina Lüth, Judith Schmitt, Michael Schredl
Somnologie September 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1007/s11818-021-00320-w (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single 30-minute telephone counseling session that included information on nightmare causes and a shortened version of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), followed by 8 weeks of self-practice, significantly reduced both nightmare frequency and distress in 28 participants drawn from a student group and a sleep-laboratory patient group. Effect sizes were very high compared to waiting-list control groups in similar studies. The approach may offer a low-threshold intervention for nightmare sufferers who rarely seek help.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study without control group Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 28 |
| Population | Student group and sleep-laboratory patient group |
| Duration | 30-minute session plus 8-week self-practice period |
| Key finding | A single session of telephone counseling with a short version of IRT significantly reduced nightmare frequency and distress after 8 weeks. |
Abstract
Abstract Background Since people with nightmares rarely seek help, low-threshold interventions and self-help methods are needed. Among different treatment approaches for nightmares, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) is the method of choice. Objective In the current study, the authors tested whether IRT is also effective when applied in a short version, within the scope of a single session of telephone counseling. Methods The nightmare frequency and nightmare distress of 28 participants was investigated before and 8 weeks after one session of telephone counseling. The 30-minute session included information on nightmare etiology as well as a short version of IRT. The session was followed by an 8‑week period of self-practice. Participants were either part of a student group or part of a group of patients from a sleep laboratory. Within-group and between-group differences were assessed. There was no control group. Results The intervention significantly reduced nightmare frequency and nightmare distress in the total sample and in both samples individually analyzed. Effect sizes were very high compared to those of waiting-list control groups of similar studies. Conclusion We were able to show that a one-session intervention can be enough to achieve significant relief from nightmares. As nightmares are underdiagnosed and undertreated, this approach might help to provide a low-threshold intervention for nightmare sufferers.