SadaNews – A US study has revealed an innovative therapeutic approach that could help reduce recurrent nightmares in children by providing a deeper understanding of the factors that keep this condition persistent.
Researchers from the Universities of Oklahoma and Tulsa explained that dealing with nightmares is no longer limited to considering them a transient problem that appears and disappears; rather, it is now possible to understand them as a condition eligible for direct therapeutic intervention. The results were published in the journal “Frontiers in Sleep.”
Recurrent nightmares in children are a common sleep disorder that may affect their daily quality of life. They cause fear of sleep, disruptions in nighttime sleeping, and frequent awakenings accompanied by anxiety or crying. This condition is often associated with psychological factors such as stress and anxiety or exposure to frightening situations, and it can sometimes emerge without a clear reason. This can reflect on the child’s mood during the day, concentration at school, and general behavior, necessitating parental attention and the involvement of specialists when it continues or repeats significantly.
The researchers proposed a new model called “DARC-NESS,” aimed at explaining the reasons behind the continuity of nightmares, focusing on children’s psychological and behavioral response mechanisms rather than just the content of the dream itself.
The model centers around the concept of “competence towards the nightmare,” which is the child’s ability to acquire skills that help them cope with nightmares and reduce their impact, thereby breaking the cycle of recurrence.
The study clarified that the persistence of nightmares is not only related to disturbing dreams but is also affected by other factors, such as anxiety related to sleep, fear of nightmare recurrence, and the child’s interpretation of what they see during sleep and after waking up.
The therapeutic method suggested by the model includes several interventions, such as re-narrating, writing down, or drawing the nightmare, followed by reformulating it in a less disturbing way in collaboration with a psychotherapist, which helps the child change their psychological response to the dream.
The researchers affirmed that this approach relies on customization, allowing a treatment plan to be designed for each child according to the nature of their condition, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method to all cases. The model also emphasizes the importance of not focusing solely on the content of the dream but considering broader factors, such as pre-sleep anxiety and coping methods after waking up.
This broader understanding helps doctors and therapists identify appropriate intervention points; some children may need to decrease sleep anxiety, while others may benefit from improving sleep habits or using therapeutic methods that rely on gradual exposure to nightmares.
The researchers also noted that children suffering from chronic nightmares often fear sleep itself, not just the dream, distinguishing their condition from other sleep disorders like insomnia.
According to the team, enhancing a child’s confidence in their ability to cope with nightmares may positively impact their sleep quality, daily behavior, academic performance, and overall mental health.