Imagery rehearsal for posttraumatic nightmares: A randomized controlled trial
Joan M. Cook, Gerlinde C. Harb, Philip Gehrman, Mark S. Cary, Geraldine M. Gamble, David Forbes, Richard J Ross
Journal of Traumatic Stress October 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1002/jts.20569 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 124 |
| Population | Male Vietnam War veterans with chronic, severe PTSD |
| Intervention | Imagery rehearsal |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | Imagery rehearsal did not significantly outperform an active comparison condition on nightmare frequency, sleep quality, or PTSD symptoms in veterans with chronic, severe PTSD; both groups improved over time but nightmare frequency did not change. |
Abstract
AbstractOne hundred twenty‐four male Vietnam War veterans with chronic, severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to imagery rehearsal (n = 61) or a credible active comparison condition (n = 63) for the treatment of combat‐related nightmares. There was pre‐post change in overall sleep quality and PTSD symptoms for both groups, but not in nightmare frequency. Intent‐to‐treat analyses showed that veterans who received imagery rehearsal had not improved significantly more than veterans in the comparison condition for the primary outcomes (nightmare frequency and sleep quality), or for a number of secondary outcomes, including PTSD. Six sessions of imagery rehearsal delivered in group format did not produce substantive improvement in Vietnam War veterans with chronic, severe PTSD. Possible explanations for findings are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficacy of a Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia and Nightmares in Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans With PTSD Combat veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (mean age... | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Lucid Dreaming Treatment for Nightmares: A Pilot Study Chronic nightmare sufferers | 2006 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 23 |
| Testing the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucid dreaming: A tDCS study Participants spending three consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 19 |
| Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Adults with high dream recall and an interest in lucid dreaming | 2018 | Randomized crossover trial | n = 121 |
| Studies with lucid dreaming as add-on therapy to Gestalt therapy Adults with nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week | 2015 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 32 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 35
- A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Depression and Anxiety April 17, 2013
- Efficacy of a Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia and Nightmares in Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans With PTSD Journal of Clinical Psychology April 29, 2013
- Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review BMC Psychiatry April 21, 2023
- An Expert Consensus Statement for Implementing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Adults Behavioral Sleep Medicine January 15, 2025
- Fragmented sleep - fragmented mind : the role of sleep in dissociative symptoms 2013
and 30 more in the library
Cites 8
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Nightmares and Sleep Disturbance in Iraq War Veterans: A Feasible and Promising Treatment Combination Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma July 23, 2009
- Effectiveness of imagery rehearsal therapy for the treatment of combat-related nightmares in veterans. Behavior Therapy June 1, 2010
- Imagery rehearsal therapy for posttraumatic nightmares in U.S. veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2009
- Imagery rehearsal therapy for frequent nightmares in children. Behavioral Sleep Medicine 2009
- Imagery rehearsal in the treatment of posttraumatic nightmares in Australian veterans with chronic combat-related PTSD: 12-month follow-up data. Journal of Traumatic Stress October 1, 2003
and 3 more in the library