Virtual Reality-Enabled Treatment of Nightmares
P. Mcnamara, Ken Moore, Y. Papelis, S. Diallo, W. Wildman
Dreaming September 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000088 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot trial Randomized Placebo-controlled Double-blind Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 19 |
| Population | Community volunteers averaging 49 years of age with varying levels of nightmare distress |
| Intervention | Virtual reality-based imagery rehearsal and rescripting treatment (ReScript) |
| Duration | 4-week trial with 2 sessions per week |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | ReScript was associated with significant reductions from baseline to trial end in anxiety, nightmare distress, and nightmare effects (all effect sizes 0.63 or above), plus a small significant reduction in nightmare frequency and no reported significant side or adverse effects. The authors conclude ReScript may be a safe and effective short-term therapy for nightmare distress but should next be tested in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. |
Abstract
We pilot tested the efficacy of a virtual reality-based imagery rehearsal and rescripting treatment (ReScript) for nightmares. Nineteen community volunteers (Mage = 49 years) who varied in terms of their nightmare distress levels participated in a 4-week-long trial of ReScript therapy. Participants used VR manual controls in an Oculus headset to manipulate 3 scary or threatening images per session with 2 sessions per week. The object was to manipulate these images into less scary or threatening images so as to gain cognitive control over intrusive imagery and to lessen overall anxiety or nightmare distress or nightmare daytime effects. Images were taken from the International Affective Picture System database and varied along 3 affective dimensions (valence, arousal, and dominance) important for nightmare imagery. Results demonstrated a significant reduction (from baseline to trial end) in anxiety levels, nightmare distress, and nightmare effects (all effect sizes .63 or above), as well as a significant decrease in anxiety words and a significant increase in cognitive process words in rescripted narratives. Nightmare frequency was also significantly reduced though effect size was small. No significant side or adverse effects were reported by participants during the 4-week trial. Indeed, Depersonalization and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Checklist scores significantly declined and mood function tests improved over the 4-week trial. We conclude that ReScript may be a safe and effective short-term therapy for nightmare distress but should next be tested with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A combined group treatment for nightmares and insomnia in combat veterans: A pilot study Combat veterans with PTSD | 2009 | Open clinical trial | n = 10 |
| Cognitions in Sleep: Lucid Dreaming as an Intervention for Nightmares in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 2020 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Managing Insomnia Using Lucid Dreaming Training: A Pilot Study. Adults with Insomnia Disorder | 2021 | Open-label trial | n = 48 |
| Dream content and political ideology. U.S. adults who identified as members of the political right or political left (28 per... | 2002 | Pilot study | n = 56 |
| Imagery rehearsal therapy for the treatment of nightmares in individuals with borderline personality disorder – A pilot study Individuals with borderline personality disorder | 2024 | Between-subjects design, pilot study | n = 44 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review BMC Psychiatry April 21, 2023
- Nightmares in the elderly: Associations with self-reported executive functions. Sleep Medicine October 5, 2024
- A neurocomputational theory of nightmares: the role of formal properties of nightmare images. SLEEP Advances June 17, 2021
Cites 7
- Increased Mastery Elements Associated With Imagery Rehearsal Treatment for Nightmares in Sexual Assault Survivors With PTSD. Dreaming December 1, 2004
- Video game play as nightmare protection: A preliminary inquiry with military gamers. Dreaming August 22, 2011
- Nightmares: Under-Reported, Undetected, and Therefore Untreated. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine July 15, 2015
- Childhood parasomnias and psychotic experiences at age 12 years in a United Kingdom birth cohort. Sleep March 1, 2014
- Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine August 1, 2010
and 2 more in the library