Journal Digest: IRT; Motivational Therapy; Mental Health Apps; and More
Psychiatric News December 23, 2022 DOI: 10.1176/appi.pn.2023.01.1.30 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Image rehearsal therapy (IRT) |
| Key points | The Geneva team proposes that playing sounds to reactivate positive memories during sleep may enhance the effectiveness of image rehearsal therapy for nightmare disorder, a condition marked by strongly negative dreams during REM sleep. |
Abstract
Activating Memories During Sleep Found to Reduce NightmaresiStock/cyano66Using sounds to activate positive memories during sleep may boost the effectiveness of a daytime therapy for nightmare disorder called image rehearsal therapy (IRT)." Nightmare disorder is characterized by dreams with strong negative emotions occurring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep," wrote a team of researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland. IRT is a cognitive-behavioral technique in which a person recalls a nightmare during the daytime but changes the narrative to make it more positive.