TY - JOUR AU - Poschmann, Ida Sophie AU - Palic-Kapic, Sabina AU - Sandahl, Hinuga AU - Berliner, Peter AU - Carlsson, Jessica PY - 2021/05/12 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for trauma-affected refugees – A case series JF - International Journal of Dream Research JA - ijodr VL - 14 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.11588/ijodr.2021.1.77853 UR - https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/IJoDR/article/view/77853 SP - 121-130 AB - <p>Psychotherapy for nightmares and sleep disturbances in refugees suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an unexamined area. This case study examines efficacy, acceptability, and patient experiences with Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) in 8 refugees with Middle Eastern background and PTSD-related nightmares. The aims of the study were to examine: A. if changes before and after IRT can be detected on measures of sleep quality, PTSD, level of functioning, and quality of life, B. if IRT is acceptable to refugees with PTSD-related nightmares, and C. patients’ individual and shared experiences through the three stages of IRT including changes in nightmare frequency on a sleep log. Qualitative (open questions) and quantitative methods (sleep-log, structured measures, drop-out, cancellation-, and no-show rates) were applied in order to create a thick description of the patients’ experiences throughout their IRT treatment process. Despite relatively high drop-out, cancellations and no-show rates; findings indicate that IRT is acceptable for the patients included in this study. Furthermore, a reduction in nightmare frequency, improvement in sleep quality and daytime functioning was indicated for most patients. IRT seems to be a good non-trauma-focused alternative to trauma-focused therapy for trauma-affected refugees and might also be used as an add on to standard trauma-focused treatment.</p> ER -