B Holzinger1, G Klösch, B Saletu. 1. Institute for Consciousness and Dream Research, Vienna, Austria; Department of Psychology, Webster University, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present exploratory clinical study was to evaluate LD as an add-on therapy for treating nightmares. METHODS:Thirty-two subjects having nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week participated. Subjects were randomly assigned to group: A) Gestalt therapy group (= GTG), or B) Gestalt and lucid dreaming group therapy (= LDG). Each group lasted ten weeks. Participants kept a sleep/dream diary over the treatment. Examinations with respect to nightmare frequency and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were carried out at the beginning, after five and ten weeks and at a follow-up three months later. RESULTS: Concerning nightmare frequency, a significant reduction was found in both groups after the ten-week-study and at the follow-up (Wilcoxon test: P ≤ 0.05). Significant reduction in dream recall frequency could only be observed in the GTG (Wilcoxon test: P ≤ 0.05). For subjects having succeeded in learning lucid dreaming, reduction was sooner and higher. Sleep quality improved for both groups at the follow-up (P ≤ 0.05, Wilcoxon test). Only the LDG showed significant improvement at the end of therapy (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION:Lucid dreaming, in combination with Gestalt therapy, is a potent technique to reduce nightmare frequency and improve the subjective quality of sleep.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present exploratory clinical study was to evaluate LD as an add-on therapy for treating nightmares. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects having nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week participated. Subjects were randomly assigned to group: A) Gestalt therapy group (= GTG), or B) Gestalt and lucid dreaming group therapy (= LDG). Each group lasted ten weeks. Participants kept a sleep/dream diary over the treatment. Examinations with respect to nightmare frequency and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were carried out at the beginning, after five and ten weeks and at a follow-up three months later. RESULTS: Concerning nightmare frequency, a significant reduction was found in both groups after the ten-week-study and at the follow-up (Wilcoxon test: P ≤ 0.05). Significant reduction in dream recall frequency could only be observed in the GTG (Wilcoxon test: P ≤ 0.05). For subjects having succeeded in learning lucid dreaming, reduction was sooner and higher. Sleep quality improved for both groups at the follow-up (P ≤ 0.05, Wilcoxon test). Only the LDG showed significant improvement at the end of therapy (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lucid dreaming, in combination with Gestalt therapy, is a potent technique to reduce nightmare frequency and improve the subjective quality of sleep.
Authors: Annika Gieselmann; Malik Ait Aoudia; Michelle Carr; Anne Germain; Robert Gorzka; Brigitte Holzinger; Birgit Kleim; Barry Krakow; Anna E Kunze; Jaap Lancee; Michael R Nadorff; Tore Nielsen; Dieter Riemann; Hinuga Sandahl; Angelika A Schlarb; Carolin Schmid; Michael Schredl; Victor I Spoormaker; Regina Steil; Annette M van Schagen; Lutz Wittmann; Maria Zschoche; Reinhard Pietrowsky Journal: J Sleep Res Date: 2019-01-29 Impact factor: 3.981
Authors: David O'Regan; Alexander Nesbitt; Nazanin Biabani; Panagis Drakatos; Hugh Selsick; Guy D Leschziner; Joerg Steier; Adam Birdseye; Iain Duncan; Seán Higgins; Veena Kumari; Paul R Stokes; Allan H Young; Ivana Rosenzweig Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-07-01 Impact factor: 4.157