Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for nightmare disorder.
Michael R Nadorff, Karen K Lambdin, Anne Germain
International Review of Psychiatry April 1, 2014 DOI: 10.3109/09540261.2014.888989 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Imagery rehearsal therapy Prazosin |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | Proposes that imagery rehearsal therapy and prazosin may serve as first-line interventions for PTSD and as adjunctive therapy to reduce suicide risk in those with nightmares. |
Abstract
Interest in the treatment of nightmares has greatly increased over the last several years as research has demonstrated the clinical significance of nightmare disorder. This paper provides an overview of nightmare disorder, its clinical relevance, and the leading treatments that are available. In particular, the paper defines nightmare disorder and then summarize the recent literature examining the clinical relevance of nightmare disorder, including its relation to post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric conditions. The relation between nightmares and suicidality is also discussed. Recent findings on the treatment of nightmare with imagery rehearsal therapy and prazosin are then summarized. Lastly, the paper comments on potential future uses of nightmare treatment including using imagery rehearsal therapy or prazosin as a first-line intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder and using these treatments as an adjunctive therapy to reduce suicide risk in those at risk of suicide with nightmares.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| Dreaming and consciousness | 1990 | 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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives Journal of Sleep Research January 29, 2019
- Longitudinal associations of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress with suicidal behavior in adolescents: mediating role of depressive symptoms Sleep July 2, 2020
- Cognitions in Sleep: Lucid Dreaming as an Intervention for Nightmares in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Frontiers in Psychology 2020
- Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review BMC Psychiatry April 21, 2023
- REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Other REM Parasomnias CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology August 1, 2023
and 17 more in the library
Cites 26
- Insomnia Symptoms, Nightmares, and Suicidal Ideation in a College Student Sample Sleep 2011
- Lucid Dreaming Treatment for Nightmares: A Pilot Study Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2006
- The Beneficial Effects of One Treatment Session and Recording of Nightmares on Chronic Nightmare Sufferers Sleep September 1, 1992
- Dream content and personality: Thick vs. Thin boundaries. Dreaming December 1, 1999
- Nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, and psychopathology in female victims of childhood maltreatment. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease September 1, 2013
and 21 more in the library