Trauma exposure is a known risk for sleep disruption from both nightmares and insomnia. Informed by recent research proposing specific mechanisms linking trauma to sleep disruption and between nightmares and insomnia, (Werner et al. 2021), we tested a model in which the relationship between nightmares and insomnia was mediated by fear of sleep. Study participants were college-aged women (N=497;...
STUDY OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the effectiveness of a group intervention combining cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for nightmares, delivered to current and former military and law-enforcement personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at an outpatient operational stress injury clinic. This study further investigated the...
Both heightened nightmare (NM) distress, intense negative emotional reactions to nightmares, and low dream self-efficacy (DSE; the perceived ability to manage or influence dream experiences), are understudied contributors to posttraumatic functioning. Individuals with lower DSE shows increased suicide risk in trauma survivors and may increase emotional disturbances during sleep, while NM...
Abstract Introduction Targeted Dream Incubation (TDI) is the process of giving an individual auditory cues (i.e., “think of a tree”) while they are falling asleep, with the goal of shaping dream content (into something such as a tree). Recent research has demonstrated TDI may be able to increase dream self-efficacy (DSE) and influence other mental health outcomes. Thus, our study explored how...
Brain and BehaviorMay 1, 2026Alessandro Bombaci, Alessandra Giordano, Ilaria Lavalle et al.
BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons, leading to muscle atrophy, weakness, and respiratory failure. Numerous studies evaluated the impact of diseases on dream content, and the dream content analysis may be considered an interesting tool in the study of the internalization of...
Abstract Background Approximately 5% of people suffer from nightmares at least every 2 weeks. One cognitive behavioral intervention for recurrent nightmares is imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), in which individuals recall, modify, and rehearse a less distressing version of their dream. Objective This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a web application called “DreamMend” as a...
When assessing sleep disturbances in PTSD, count disturbed awakenings as nightmares at baseline. This is a key symptom of PTSD-related sleep problems and a target for treatment. Investigate nicotine withdrawal in pack-a-day smokers who awaken after several hours. An important indicator is the patient’s ability to return to sleep after smoking a cigarette. For sleep terrors with thrashing and...
Annals of NeurosciencesApril 18, 2026T. S. Saranya, Sera Mary Soloman, Sandeep Kumar Gupta et al.
Background: Trauma has a profound impact on both psychological and physiological functioning, with sleep disturbances-particularly nightmares-emerging as one of the most commonly reported symptoms. These sleep disruptions often co-occur with cognitive difficulties, affecting memory and attention. Purpose: The present study aimed to explore the relationship between trauma history, nightmare...
BACKGROUND: Nightmare complaints are common among individuals with psychiatric disorders and are associated with significant emotional distress and functional impairment. Despite their clinical relevance, they remain frequently under-recognized and under-treated in psychiatric settings. OBJECTIVE: To offer a pragmatic, clinician-oriented framework for the evaluation and management of nightmare...
Nightmares are repeated and lengthy dreams, extremely dysphoric, with clear memory, typically involving life-threatening threats to safety or physical integrity. These nightmares lead to significant distress upon awakening and may substantially impact daytime functioning. Both the experience of these dreams and the sleep disruption produced by the ensuing awakening cause significant impairment...