Nightmare Rescripting (Audio)
Nightmare rescripting is an evidence based treatment for nightmares, with medium to large effect sizes on nightmare frequency, distress, intensity, and sleep quality.
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- English (GB)
- English (US)
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
The Nightmare Rescripting exercise is an audio track from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. It is designed to teach people who experience repeated nightmares a technique for overcoming them. Nightmare rescripting is an evidence based treatment for nightmares, with medium to large effect sizes on nightmare frequency, distress, intensity, and sleep quality. The Nightmare Rescripting exercise guides individuals through stages of writing about (exposing to) their current nightmare, identifying the worst moment and the emotion and meaning associated with that moment, then introducing changes to the nightmare script which act to alter the meaning and associated emotion of the nightmare.
Therapist Guidance
This audio track was originally recorded for people suffering from nightmares in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) although nightmare rescripting as a technique is used more broadly for anyone experiencing clinically significant nightmares. The audio track is a simple .mp3 file which can be played in most media player apps. You can also download the verbatim script, allowing you to record the exercise for your clients in your own voice to reinforce work completed in therapy.
References And Further Reading
- Augedal, A. W., Hansen, K. S., Kronhaug, C. R., Harvey, A. G., Pallesen, S. (2013). Randomized controlled trials of psychological and pharmacological treatments for nightmares: A meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Review, 17(2), 143-52.
- Casement, M. D., Swanson, L. M. (2012). A meta-analysis of imagery rehearsal for post-trauma nightmares: Effects on nightmare frequency, sleep quality, and posttraumatic stress. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 566-74.
- Ehlers, A., Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 319-345.
- Hansen, K., Höfling, V., Kröner-Borowik, T., Stangier, U., Steil, R. (2013). Efficacy of psychological interventions aiming to reduce chronic nightmares: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(1), 146-55.
- Ho, F. Y-Y., Chan, C. S., Tang, K. N-S. (2016). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for sleep disturbances in treating posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 90-102.