title: Psychotherapy improved the sleep quality in a patient who was a victim of child sexual abuse: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) often experience symptoms such as recurrent nightmares, which affect their adult life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the effect of psychotherapy on the quality of life and sleep in a female patient with a previous history of CSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was climacteric (menopausal transition) and treated in an outpatient clinic. She underwent 40 sessions of psychotherapy and was evaluated before and after the sessions using questionnaires and polysomnography (PSG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements were taken using the following: Kupperman Index (KI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, and PSG. Reports of dream content were also evaluated during the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After psychotherapeutic intervention, the frequency of nightmares and their attendant suffering decreased. Additionally, the context of the nightmares changed, and a decrease was noted in the KI, BAI, and BDI parameters. The PSG indicated an increase in rapid eye movement sleep.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychotherapeutic intervention combined with zolpidem and fluoxetine treatment contributed to a resignification of the dreams of a patient with a history of CSA. The treatment also improved the quality of her dreams and her quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia da, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Psicobiologia da, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Glaury A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hachul
mesh_terms: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D020184:Night Terrors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D005473:Fluoxetine; D000077334:Zolpidem
keywords: Child Sexual Abuse; Insomnia; Menopause; Psychotherapy; Quality of Life; Sleep