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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Mar 1;19(3):499-509.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10374.

Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for nightmares and parasomnias

Norah Vincent  1 , Dale Dirkse  1 , Eleni Giannouli  2 , Amanda McQuarrie  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for nightmares and parasomnias

Norah Vincent et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

Study objectives: This pilot study determined whether transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for parasomnias (CBTp) reduces parasomnia and activity levels during sleep in a sample of adult sleep clinic outpatients. A secondary objective was to assess whether treatment produces improvements in daytime fatigue/sleepiness, perceived cognition, mood, and depression/anxiety/stress, as well as functional impairment in work and leisure activities.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial with CBTp and self-monitoring control conditions. Participants were 19 adults with a DSM 5 parasomnia disorder who received individual CBTp virtually from their homes. CBTp consisted of psychoeducation, sleep hygiene and safety instructions, relaxation training, parasomnia techniques, and relapse prevention in a 6-week manualized, structured program.

Results: Using a repeated measures analysis of variance model, and relative to a self-monitoring control condition, results showed that CBTp produced statistically significant improvements in parasomnia frequency, severity, nocturnal activity, and sleep efficiency. There was a trend toward reduced sleep-onset latency and improved work and social adjustment. Of treated participants, 100% rated themselves as improved at study conclusion.

Conclusions: Implications of these findings are that cognitive behavioral interventions for parasomnias are effective in lessening parasomnias. More investigation into this type of treatment is warranted.

Clinical trial registration: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Parasomnias; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04633668; Identifier: NCT04633668.

Citation: Vincent N, Dirkse D, Giannouli E, McQuarrie A. Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy for nightmares and parasomnias. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(3):499-509.

Keywords: cognitive behavioral treatment; parasomnia.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have read and approved the manuscript. Work for this study was performed at the University of Manitoba. This study was funded by an internal grant from the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Participant flow.
CBTp = cognitive behavioral therapy for parasomnias.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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