The Impact of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy on Dream Enactment in a Patient With REM-Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Case Study

ORCID

Bolstad: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2297-2778

MSU Affiliation

College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Psychology

Creation Date

2026-06-30

Abstract

Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) is an evidence-based treatment for nightmare disorder (ND), and numerous studies have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing the frequency and severity of nightmares. ND and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) co-occur, yet the impact of successful treatment of nightmares on dream enactment inb RBD has not been studied. In this case study, we present the treatment of ND using IRT and its impact on dream enactment in the context of RBD. A total of 5 sessions of IRT over 5 months resulted in a reduction in nightmares and, according to the patient and her husband, a decrease in dream enactment. We hypothesize that reducing the emotional valence of the dream content may make dream enactment less likely. As a result, IRT may provide helpful adjuvant treatment to pharmacological treatment of RBD.

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Publication Title

Dreaming

Publisher

American Psychological Association

First Page

195

Last Page

206

Rights

© 2021 American Psychological Association. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000174