Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares
Introduction Posttraumatic nightmares are one of the most frequent symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder. Prevalence can be up to 96%. These nightmares evoke the experienced traumatic event, causing a negative impact. Besides, they are and independent risk for suicide. There are different pharm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822017357/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617653943107584 |
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| author | C. Alvarez Garcia L. Nocete Navarro A. Sanz Giancola |
| author_facet | C. Alvarez Garcia L. Nocete Navarro A. Sanz Giancola |
| author_sort | C. Alvarez Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Posttraumatic nightmares are one of the most frequent symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder. Prevalence can be up to 96%. These nightmares evoke the experienced traumatic event, causing a negative impact. Besides, they are and independent risk for suicide. There are different pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for PTN, despite is no optimal treatment.
Objectives
To analyse the different treatment options for PTN.
Methods
This was a narrative literature review.
Results
The two main treatments for PTN nowadays are the Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) and prazosin. IRT is a cognitive-behavioral intervention, that helps the patient to change the content of the nightmare to a “happier ending”. Prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist that blocks the stress response in the central nervous system receptors. Although it was a promising drug, significant differences compared to placebo have not been found. There is growing data that suggests nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, could be helpful in PTN treatment. A clinical trial made in Canada revealed that 72% of patients experienced a complete disappearance or at least an important reduction of PTN.
Conclusions
PTN is a very common and distressing symptom in patients presenting PTSD. Nevertheless, there is no treatment with enough evidence for this pathology. On this account, it is fundamental to do more research in order to find and suitable treatment that can improve the quality of life of these patients.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:57:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-907dcfdcf23242049acae21b2c12ab18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:57:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-907dcfdcf23242049acae21b2c12ab182023-11-17T05:05:15ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S674S67410.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1735Dealing with Posttraumatic NightmaresC. Alvarez Garcia0L. Nocete Navarro1A. Sanz Giancola2Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares, SpainHospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares, SpainHospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares, Spain Introduction Posttraumatic nightmares are one of the most frequent symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder. Prevalence can be up to 96%. These nightmares evoke the experienced traumatic event, causing a negative impact. Besides, they are and independent risk for suicide. There are different pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for PTN, despite is no optimal treatment. Objectives To analyse the different treatment options for PTN. Methods This was a narrative literature review. Results The two main treatments for PTN nowadays are the Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) and prazosin. IRT is a cognitive-behavioral intervention, that helps the patient to change the content of the nightmare to a “happier ending”. Prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist that blocks the stress response in the central nervous system receptors. Although it was a promising drug, significant differences compared to placebo have not been found. There is growing data that suggests nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, could be helpful in PTN treatment. A clinical trial made in Canada revealed that 72% of patients experienced a complete disappearance or at least an important reduction of PTN. Conclusions PTN is a very common and distressing symptom in patients presenting PTSD. Nevertheless, there is no treatment with enough evidence for this pathology. On this account, it is fundamental to do more research in order to find and suitable treatment that can improve the quality of life of these patients. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822017357/type/journal_articlenightmaresposttraumaticTreatmentPTSD |
| spellingShingle | C. Alvarez Garcia L. Nocete Navarro A. Sanz Giancola Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares European Psychiatry nightmares posttraumatic Treatment PTSD |
| title | Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares |
| title_full | Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares |
| title_fullStr | Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares |
| title_short | Dealing with Posttraumatic Nightmares |
| title_sort | dealing with posttraumatic nightmares |
| topic | nightmares posttraumatic Treatment PTSD |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822017357/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT calvarezgarcia dealingwithposttraumaticnightmares AT lnocetenavarro dealingwithposttraumaticnightmares AT asanzgiancola dealingwithposttraumaticnightmares |