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From the Journals

Nightmare Therapy Shows Promise for Young Patients

Conexiant

A clinical trial revealed that a telehealth-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy significantly reduced nightmare frequency, distress, and associated mental health symptoms in children aged 6 to 17 years.

In the study, published in Frontiers in Sleep, researchers from the University of Tulsa and University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine conducted a randomized controlled trial with 46 youth, demonstrating statistically significant improvements across multiple domains of sleep and mental health.

The five-module intervention produced notable outcomes:

  • Nights with nightmare awakenings decreased (Cohen's d = 1.08)
  • Weekly nightmare frequency reduced (Cohen's d = 0.82)
  • Nightmare-related distress diminished (Cohen's d = 1.05).

The study sample included:

  • Age range: 6 to 17 years (mean age = 12.05 years)
  • Racial composition: 65% White, 13% Native American or Pacific Islander, 15% multiracial
  • Gender diversity: 50% cisgender girls, 35% cisgender boys, 7% transgender boys, 9% non-binary.

Beyond nightmare reduction, the participants experienced significant improvements across multiple mental health domains:

  • Anxiety/depression symptoms
  • Attention problems
  • Obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Preliminary findings also suggested potential suicide prevention benefits, with fewer treatment group participants reporting suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared with the waitlist group.

The cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-NC) integrated:

  • Psychoeducation about sleep and nightmares
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Anxiety management strategies
  • Sleep hygiene education
  • Nightmare exposure and rescription.

While promising, the researchers acknowledged study limitations, including:

  • Small sample size
  • Lack of objective sleep measurements
  • Recruitment from a single outpatient psychiatric clinic.

Recommendations for future research included:

  • Replication studies
  • Longer-term follow-up assessments
  • Investigations with larger sample sizes.

The research was funded by the University of Tulsa Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Alumni Association.

The authors declared that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.