None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is a psychological treatment which is thought to reduce the frequency and intensity of trauma-related nightmares. Experiencing nightmares is common after being exposed to stressful life event and these typically subside over time. However, some people who have been exposed to a traumatic event will experience ongoing and frequent nightmares. The aim of this study is to determine whether IRT is an effective intervention in reducing the frequency and intensity of post-traumatic nightmares as well as overall Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
Interventions
Participants will receive a free 6-week intervention of imagery rehearsal therapy delivered online by a registered psychologist. Sessions will be individual and 90-minutes in duration. Participants will receive written handout materials which summarise key elements of the intervention.
The imagery rehearsal intervention involves 6 weekly sessions which includes topics of psychoeducation of nightmares, discussing the target/distressing nightmare, rescripting the nightmare to be less distressing
Participants will receive a free 6-week intervention of imagery rehearsal therapy delivered online by a registered psychologist. Sessions will be individual and 90-minutes in duration. Participants will receive written handout materials which summarise key elements of the intervention. The imagery rehearsal intervention involves 6 weekly sessions which includes topics of psychoeducation of nightmares, discussing the target/distressing nightmare, rescripting the nightmare to be less distressing and rehearsing the adapted dream. There is also a module of relaxation strategies (progressive muscle relaxation). The materials are adapted from the imagery rehearsal manual developed by Andrea Phelps - Phelps, A., & Forbes, D. (2004). Imagery Rehearsal in the Treatment of Nightmares in PTSD: Practitioner’ Treatment Manual. Melbourne: Phoenix Australia. The psychologist completed an online course developed by Barry Krakow in Imagery Rehearsal Therapy. This training is approximately 5 hours, and was completed in 2024. Participants will have weekly sessions where adherence to the imagery rehearsal exercises will be reviewed. They will also complete daily questionnaires via an app which will ask them about their experience of nightmares and whether they practiced strategies discussed the previous week. During the 1-week stabilisation phase - which occurs prior to the first intervention session - participants complete a pre-questionnaires on day 1 which assesses their PTSD and nightmare experiences. They will also complete a short daily questionnaire via an app which assesses their PTSD and nightmare experience each day. This allows us to obtain a baseline.
Sponsors
University of Technology Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Fluent English-Speaker. • 18 years or older. • Must meet criteria for a DSM-5 Diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). • Must be experiencing post-traumatic nightmares at least once a week which are distressing and result in the person waking up. • Must have access to the internet and be able to commit to attending 6 weekly online sessions providing daily reports (via mobile phone) of nightmares and symptoms throughout the study. • Willingness to give written informed consent and willingness to participate.
Exclusion criteria
• Those who do not meet the inclusion criteria. • Those who are receiving any concurrent psychological therapy intervention. • Those who are taking medication such as Prazosin to manage their nightmares. • Participants can be taking medication to manage other disorders or symptoms (e.g., antidepressants) but need to be on a stable dose for preceding 1-month before the intervention. • Those who have an elevated risk of suicide (have daily ideation, current plans or intent) or who have engaged in deliberate self-harm within the past six months or more than five times in total during their lifetime. • Those who have current psychosis.
Outcome results
None listed