0552 "Eye-Movement-Integration Therapy" (EMI) in patients with nightmares - a pilot study
Sleep May 25, 2022 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac079.549 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Randomized Pilot study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Patients aged 19 to 24 meeting diagnostic criteria for nightmares |
| Duration | Single session; post-measurement at 2 weeks and follow-up at 3 months |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | A single EMI session reduced nightmare frequency from an average of 5.4 per week to 1.6 per week two weeks later, with further improvement to 1.3 per week at three months. The authors propose that EMI may treat nightmares causally and specifically, and call for larger randomized controlled trials. |
Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction: Nightmares are associated with enormous suffering as well as a significant reduction in the quality of life of those affected. Various studies also show a direct correlation between the frequency of nightmares and suicidal tendencies. Nightmares are therefore diseases that must be taken very seriously. Currently, they are treated with costly therapy methods and sometimes with unstable success. In addition, patients must fulfil certain requirements such as suggestibility and the ability to imagine. Consequently, direct and economical treatment methods are needed. Since nightmares often have a traumatic character for those affected, it was obvious to test this therapeutic technique, which was developed especially for the treatment of PTSD.The aim of this study is to test the neurotherapeutic technique "Eye-Movement-Integration Therapy" (EMI) for the treatment of nightmares for its effectiveness.
Methods: Three patients between the ages of 19 and 24 who met the diagnostic criteria for nightmares were treated with EMI.
Results: Just one EMI session was able to reduce nightmare frequency from an average of 5.4 nightmares per week in the post-measurement two weeks after the EMI session to 1.6. This effect improved to 1.3 nightmares per week in the follow-up after 3 months.
Conclusion: EMI may be a way to treat nightmares causally and specifically. Other possible treatment outcomes could be an improvement in comorbid symptoms and a reduction in suicide risk. Larger controlled, randomised clinical trials are needed to test this treatment method for its effectiveness. It would also be desirable to investigate the treatment success of EMI in comorbid mental disorders, especially in post-traumatic stress disorder with nightmares. Support (If Any):
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming as a Learnable Skill: A Case Study The author | 1980 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Lucid Dreaming as a Treatment for Recurrent Nightmares People with recurrent nightmares | 2010 | Case study | n = 5 |
| Treating Chronic Nightmares of Sexual Assault Survivors with an Intellectual Disability – Two Descriptive Case Studies Adults with learning disabilities suffering from post-traumatic nightmares | 2006 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Lucid dreaming: Correspondence between dreamed and actual events in one subject during rem sleep A lucid dreamer | 1984 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Lucid dreaming treatment for nightmares: A series of cases. Participants with nightmares | 2003 | Case series | n = 8 |