Citation

Germain A, Shear MK, Hall M, Buysse DJ. Behav. Res. Ther. 2007; 45(3): 627-632.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA. germaina@upmc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.brat.2006.04.009

PMID

16777060

Abstract

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.

Language: en