Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and imagery rehearsal in combat veterans with comorbid posttraumatic stress: A case series

Disrupted sleep is common among combat veterans and can negatively impact response to mental health treatments. A trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for nightmares was conducted with 14 combat veterans who had been diagnosed with insomnia and who were experiencing posttraumatic stress and/or depression. In the case series that follows, veterans experienced clinically significant changes in sleep, and statistically significant reductions in insomnia, nightmare, depression, and posttraumatic stress severity, following treatment. Combined CBT-I and IRT is a promising treatment for patients with combat-related trauma and psychiatric morbidity.