Skip to content

Controlling Nightmares with Imagery Rehearsal Therapy

Gilbert M. Tucker

Journal watch 2001 DOI: 10.1056/jp200109050000001 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 168
Population Women with chronic nightmares and DSM-IIIR-diagnosed PTSD
Intervention Imagery rehearsal therapy
Topics Dreaming
Key findings Imagery rehearsal therapy reduced nightmare frequency and improved sleep and PTSD symptoms relative to a wait-list control in women with PTSD and chronic nightmares.

Abstract

Recurrent nightmares are common in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but rarely are nightmares treated directly. These researchers randomized 168 women with chronic nightmares and DSM-IIIR-diagnosed PTSD to receive imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) or to be placed on a wait list (control group). Of the participants, 79 percent were …