Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia decreases trauma-related nightmare frequency in veterans

Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI, 4 sessions) reduced trauma-related nightmares in military veterans from baseline to posttreatment, while progressive muscle relaxation therapy did not. However, these reductions were not sustained at a 6-month follow-up. Neither treatment reduced nontrauma-related bad dreams. Baseline nightmare frequency did not affect how much insomnia severity changed. The study involved 91 veterans with insomnia disorder.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Trauma-related nightmares are highly prevalent among veterans and are associated with higher-severity insomnia and posttraumatic stress disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (typically 6–8 sessions) has been shown to reduce trauma-related nightmares. Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI, 4 sessions) has been found to be comparable to CBT-I in decreasing insomnia severity; however, the effects of BBTI on nightmares have not been investigated. The current study tested the effects of BBTI on both trauma-related nightmares and nontrauma-related bad dreams using an active control group treated using progressive muscle relaxation therapy. In addition, we tested whether baseline trauma-related nightmare frequency and baseline nontrauma-related bad dream frequency moderated changes in insomnia severity. Participants were 91 military veterans with insomnia disorder randomized to BBTI or progressive muscle relaxation therapy. Participants reported insomnia severity on the Insomnia Severity Index and reported trauma-related nightmare frequency and nontrauma-related bad dream frequency on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index–PTSD Addendum. We found that BBTI significantly reduced trauma-related nightmares from baseline to posttreatment, whereas progressive muscle relaxation therapy did not. However, reductions in trauma-related nightmares were not maintained at the 6-month follow up. Neither BBTI nor progressive muscle relaxation therapy reduced nontrauma-related bad dreams from baseline to posttreatment. We also found that neither baseline trauma-related nightmare frequency nor baseline nontrauma-related bad dream frequency moderated changes in insomnia symptom severity. Findings from the current study suggest that BBTI may help reduce trauma-related nightmares. Further research is needed to better understand the potential mechanisms underlying how improved sleep may reduce trauma-related nightmares. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Brief Behavioral Insomnia Treatment Study (BBTI); URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02571452; Identifier: NCT02571452. Ranney RM, Gloria R, Metzler TJ, Huggins J, Neylan TC, Maguen S. Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia decreases trauma-related nightmare frequency in veterans. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022:18(7):1831–1839.