Cognitive-behavioral treatment for chronic nightmares in trauma-exposed persons: assessing physiological reactions to nightmare-related fear.
Cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBTs) that target nightmares are efficacious for ameliorating self-reported sleep problems and psychological distress. However, it is important to determine whether these treatments influence objective markers of nightmare-related fear, because fear and concomitant physiological responses could promote nightmare chronicity and sleep disturbance. This randomized, controlled study (N=40) assessed physiological (skin conductance, heart rate, facial electromyogram) and subjective (displeasure, fear, anger, sadness, arousal) reactions to personally relevant nightmare imagery intended to evoke nightmare-related fear. Physiological assessments were conducted at pretreatment as well as 1-week, 3-months, and 6-months posttreatment. Results of mixed effects analysis of variance models suggested treatment reduced physiological and subjective reactions to nightmare imagery, gains that were generally maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Potential implications are discussed.
Rhudy
Jamie L
JL
Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA.
Davis
Joanne L
JL
Williams
Amy E
AE
McCabe
Klanci M
KM
Bartley
Emily J
EJ
Byrd
Patricia M
PM
Pruiksma
Kristi E
KE
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004325:Dreams / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome