Imagery Rehearsal Therapy: An Emerging Treatment for Posttraumatic Nightmares in Veterans

Nightmares are a common complaint among service members exposed to traumatic events, but prevailing paradigms are disposed to a view that nightmares are a secondary phenomenon untreatable with direct therapeutic intervention. Imagery rehearsal therapy is a cognitive-imagery approach with proven efficacy in the treatment of nightmares in civilian trauma victims. Imagery rehearsal therapy not only has potential to reduce nightmare intensity and frequency, but controlled studies show clinically meaningful decreases in all clusters of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms as well as insomnia. Limited data support its use with combat veterans. Directions for future research with combat veterans are recommended.