Effectiveness of guided imagery to improve sleep quality among young adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
G Vikraman, Benitta Paulin Giftlin R.
Journal of Associated Medical Sciences May 2, 2026 DOI: 10.12982/jams.2026.047 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Young adults aged 18-25 years diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder |
| Interventions | Guided imagery conventional occupational therapy |
| Duration | Three months; 36 sessions, three times per week, 45 minutes each |
| Measures | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, Past-Month version |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Key findings | Guided imagery produced a larger improvement in sleep quality than conventional occupational therapy: mean PSQI scores dropped from 14.40 to 8.73 in the guided imagery group versus 14.07 to 13.47 in the control group, and the authors report the post-test between-group difference was significant. The authors conclude guided imagery may be a valuable non-drug approach for sleep difficulties in young adults with PTSD. |
Abstract
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder often leads to ongoing sleep difficulties such as insomnia and nightmares, which can interfere with mood, concentration, and daily activities. Guided imagery, a relaxation method that uses calming, multisensory visualizations, has shown potential to improve sleep and reduce distress in people experiencing high stress or trauma. This study evaluates the effectiveness of guided imagery in improving sleep quality among young adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to conventional occupational therapy.
Objectives: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of guided imagery and conventional occupational therapy in improving sleep quality among young adults (18-25 years) with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Materials and Methods: A quasi experimental design was conducted with 30 young adults aged 18-25 years, recruited through convenience sampling and divided into two groups: experimental (guided imagery intervention) and control (conventional occupational therapy). The potential of the post-traumatic stress disorder was accomplished by the diagnosis of PTSD using Clinician- Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, Past-Month version. Both interventions were delivered over three months, with 36 sessions held three times per week, each lasting 45 minutes. The state of sleep prior to intervention and right after the intervention was critically explained with the aid of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was performed to compare pre- and post-test scores within and between groups.
Results: The experimental group (N=15) had a mean pre-test PSQI score of 14.40 (SD=2.41) and a post-test score of 8.73 (SD=2.05), showing a highly significant improvement (t=15.707, p=0.000). The control group (N=15) had a mean pre-test PSQI score of 14.07 (SD=1.53) and a post-test score of 13.47 (SD=1.60), also showing significant improvement (t=2.358, p=0.033). Post-test scores between the groups revealed a significantly greater improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group (t=7.050, p=0.000).
Conclusion: Guided imagery was found to greatly improve sleep quality in young adults living with post-traumatic stress disorder, offering better results than conventional occupational therapy. These results highlight the value of using gentle, non-drug approaches like guided imagery to ease sleep difficulties and support overall well-being in this group.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Resting‐state functional connectivity of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in post‐traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype Adults with PTSD (n = 70), its dissociative subtype (n = 41), and healthy controls (n =... | 2017 | Cross-sectional resting-state fMRI study | n = 161 |
| Sensory overload and imbalance: Resting-state vestibular connectivity in PTSD and its dissociative subtype. Adults with PTSD, PTSD dissociative subtype, and healthy controls | 2017 | Cross-sectional, seed-based resting-state fMRI study | n = 141 |
| Altered Sense of Body Ownership and Agency in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype: A Rubber Hand Illusion Study Adults with PTSD (n=4), PTSD with dissociative subtype (n=6), and healthy controls (n=7) | 2018 | Case-control experimental study | n = 17 |
| Superior colliculus resting state networks in post‐traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype Adults with PTSD (n = 67), its dissociative subtype (n = 41), and healthy controls (n =... | 2017 | Observational cross-sectional resting-state fMRI study | n = 158 |