Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Children

Change on the Child Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) - Child Version,Change on the Trauma Related Nightmare Survey (TRNS-C) - Child Version,Change on the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ),Change on the Nightmare Locus of Control (NLOC),Change on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - Modified (PSQI) - Child Version,Change on the Children's Report of Sleep Patterns (CRSP),Change on the Sleep Locus of Control (SLOC),Change on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS),Change in reports on Sleep Journal,Change on the Child Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) - Caregiver Report regarding child,Change on the Children's Sleep Habits - Caregiver Report regarding child,Adverse Childhood Experiences for CHILD - Caregiver Report regarding child,Change on the Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children - Caregiver Report regarding child

Up to 50% of children experience nightmares annually. Nightmares interfere with sleep quality
 and quantity resulting in sleep deficiency, and are associated with negative mental health
 consequences. Previous research has shown efficacy of manualized CBT treatment for reducing
 trauma related nightmares in adults, and preliminary evidence has shown efficacy in children.
 This study is the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the
 treatment for idiopathic, as well as trauma related nightmares in children. The treatment in
 a manualized CBT protocol (5 sessions) that teaches sleep hygiene, relaxation strategies, and
 addresses nightmares therapeutically through exposure and rescripting.