Effects of a brief behavioral treatment for PTSD-related sleep disturbances: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Sleep disturbances are a core feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and are often resistant to first-line pharmacological and psychological PTSD interventions. The goal of this pilot study was to explore the effects of a very brief intervention for PTSD-related nightmares and insomnia in victims of violent crimes with PTSD.


METHODS
Seven adult victims of violent crimes with a current diagnosis of PTSD received a single, 90-min intervention session that used cognitive-behavioral techniques aimed at reducing post-traumatic nightmares and insomnia. Sleep diary measures, and measures of sleep quality, PTSD severity, anxiety, and depression were completed at baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention.


RESULTS
Improvements in self-report and sleep diary measures of sleep quality and dream frequency were observed post-intervention. Clinically meaningful reductions in daytime PTSD symptom severity were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
A very brief behavioral intervention targeting post-traumatic nightmares and insomnia was associated with significant improvements in sleep and daytime PTSD symptom severity. Brief sleep-focused intervention may be helpful adjuncts to first-line PTSD treatments.
Germain
Anne
A
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA. germaina@upmc.edu
Shear
M Katherine
MK
Hall
Martica
M
Buysse
Daniel J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D004325:Dreams / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness