[Treatment of posttraumatic nightmares: the role of imagery rehearsal therapy]

THE ROLE OF IMAGERY REHEARSAL THERAPY. Post -traumatic stress disorder develops in 30% of adults exposed to a traumatic event. In these patients, sleep disturbances are the earliest and most persistent symptoms, but they remain relatively unresponsive to the usual treatments used in post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic nightmares are relivings of the traumatic event and a source of significant emotional distress. They concern over 70% of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Imagery rehearsal therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for post-traumatic nightmares. This psychotherapy combines psychoeducational and cognitive restructuring methods where mental imagery is used. According to the literature, imagery rehearsal therapy significantly improves nightmare frequency, insomnia severity, sleep quality and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.