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- Title
Conquering nightmares on the phone: one-session counseling using imagery rehearsal therapy.
- Authors
Lüth, Katharina; Schmitt, Judith; Schredl, Michael
- Abstract
Background: Since people with nightmares rarely seek help, low-threshold interventions and self-help methods are needed. Among different treatment approaches for nightmares, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) is the method of choice. Objective: In the current study, the authors tested whether IRT is also effective when applied in a short version, within the scope of a single session of telephone counseling. Methods: The nightmare frequency and nightmare distress of 28 participants was investigated before and 8 weeks after one session of telephone counseling. The 30-minute session included information on nightmare etiology as well as a short version of IRT. The session was followed by an 8‑week period of self-practice. Participants were either part of a student group or part of a group of patients from a sleep laboratory. Within-group and between-group differences were assessed. There was no control group. Results: The intervention significantly reduced nightmare frequency and nightmare distress in the total sample and in both samples individually analyzed. Effect sizes were very high compared to those of waiting-list control groups of similar studies. Conclusion: We were able to show that a one-session intervention can be enough to achieve significant relief from nightmares. As nightmares are underdiagnosed and undertreated, this approach might help to provide a low-threshold intervention for nightmare sufferers.
- Subjects
NIGHTMARES; HOTLINES (Counseling); COUNSELING; REHEARSALS; HELP-seeking behavior; PATIENT compliance
- Publication
Somnologie, 2021, Vol 25, Issue 3, p197
- ISSN
1432-9123
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11818-021-00320-w