The treatment of recalcitrant post-traumatic nightmares with autogenic training and autogenic abreaction: a case study.
Recurrent and frightening dreams are commonly experienced by patients who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after a motor vehicle accident. Such nocturnal episodes, if left untreated, can result in the experience of severe distress with physical, emotional, and psychophysiological concomitant. The present single-case study investigated the effects of the standard autogenic exercises and autogenic abreaction in reducing the frequency and severity of post-traumatic nightmares in a survivor of a car crash. The patient was also instructed in two additional organ-specific formulas in order to improve her sleep. The results of the study showed that the interventions were successful in effectively treating the patient's distressing nightmares. Follow-up data suggested that the treatment effects persisted after the termination of therapy. Suggestions for future investigations are discussed.
Sadigh
M R
MR
Department of Psychology, Good Shepherd Hospital, Allentown, PA 18103, USA.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001326:Autogenic Training; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome