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Imagery rehearsal for posttraumatic nightmares: A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Cook Joan M.,
Harb Gerlinde C.,
Gehrman Philip R.,
Cary Mark S.,
Gamble Geraldine M.,
Forbes David,
Ross Richard J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20569
Subject(s) - nightmare , posttraumatic stress , psychology , psychiatry , randomized controlled trial , clinical psychology , medicine , surgery
Abstract One hundred twenty‐four male Vietnam War veterans with chronic, severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to imagery rehearsal ( n = 61) or a credible active comparison condition ( n = 63) for the treatment of combat‐related nightmares. There was pre‐post change in overall sleep quality and PTSD symptoms for both groups, but not in nightmare frequency. Intent‐to‐treat analyses showed that veterans who received imagery rehearsal had not improved significantly more than veterans in the comparison condition for the primary outcomes (nightmare frequency and sleep quality), or for a number of secondary outcomes, including PTSD. Six sessions of imagery rehearsal delivered in group format did not produce substantive improvement in Vietnam War veterans with chronic, severe PTSD. Possible explanations for findings are discussed.