A controlled study of imagery rehearsal for chronic nightmares in sexual assault survivors with PTSD: A preliminary report

B. Krakow, M. Hollifield, R. Schrader, M. Koss, D. Tandberg, J. Lauriello, L. McBride, T. D. Warner, D. Cheng, T. Edmond, R. Kellner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

203 Scopus citations

Abstract

Imagery-rehearsal therapy for chronic nightmares was assessed in a randomized, controlled study of sexual assault survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nightmares, sleep quality, and PTSD were assessed at baseline for 169 women, who were randomized into two groups: treatment (n = 87) and wait-list control (n = 82). Treatment consisted of two 3-hr sessions and one 1-hr session conducted over 5 weeks. Of 169 participants, 91 women (Treatment, n = 43, Control, n = 48) completed a 3-month follow-up and 78 did not. At follow-up, nightmare frequency and PTSD severity decreased and sleep quality improved in the treatment group with small to minimal changes in the control group, Treatment effects were moderate to high (Cohen's d ranged from 0.57 to 1.26). Notwithstanding the large dropout rate, imagery-rehearsal therapy is an effective treatment for chronic nightmares in sexual assault survivors with PTSD and is associated with improvement in sleep quality and decreases in PTSD severity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)589-609
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Traumatic Stress
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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