The impact of imagery rehearsal therapy on dream enactment in a patient with REM-sleep behavior disorder: A case study.
Christina Pierpaoli-Parker, Courtney J Bolstad, E. Szkody, A. Amara, Michael R Nadorff, S. Thomas
Dreaming (New York, N.Y.) September 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000174 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractImagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) reduced nightmares and, according to the patient and her husband, decreased dream enactment in a person with both nightmare disorder and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Five sessions of IRT over five months led to fewer nightmares and less dream enactment. The authors suggest that lowering the emotional intensity of dream content may make dream enactment less likely, and that IRT could serve as a helpful addition to medication for RBD.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient with nightmare disorder and REM sleep behavior disorder |
| Intervention | Imagery rehearsal therapy |
| Duration | 5 sessions over 5 months |
| Keywords | Psychology Medicine |
| Key finding | Imagery rehearsal therapy reduced nightmares and dream enactment in a patient with co-occurring nightmare disorder and REM sleep behavior disorder. |
Abstract
Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) is an evidence-based treatment for nightmare disorder (ND), and numerous studies have demonstrated its ef fi cacy in reducing the frequency and severity of nightmares. ND and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) co-occur, yet the impact of successful treatment of nightmares on dream enactment in RBD has not been studied. In this case study, we present the treatment of ND using IRT and its impact on dream enactment in the context of RBD. A total of 5 sessions of IRT over 5 months resulted in a reduction in nightmares and, according to the patient and her husband, a decrease in dream enactment. We hypothesize that reducing the emotional valence of the dream content may make dream enactment less likely. As a result, IRT may provide helpful adjuvant treatment to pharmacological treatment of RBD.