{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T08:20:29Z","timestamp":1780388429698,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,18]],"date-time":"2022-02-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1645142400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/journals\/pages\/open_access\/funder_policies\/chorus\/standard_publication_model"}],"funder":[{"name":"College of Education, Psychology and Social Work at Flinders University and Invention City, LLC"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Study Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Recurrent nightmares in childhood may have a range of detrimental effects for both the child and parents. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a novel parent-based intervention for childhood nightmares, using a new device called the \u201cDream Changer.\u201d<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>A total of 56 children aged 3\u201310 years (M = 7.1 \u00b1 2.1 years; 51.8% boys), and one of their parents were randomized to either the intervention or waitlist control group. The intervention group received a \u201cDream Changer\u201d\u2014a light-emitting remote-control-like device that the child was encouraged to take to bed and use upon experiencing a nightmare. Parents completed online surveys at baseline, 1-week, and 2-weeks following the intervention. Parents in the intervention group additionally completed a 3-month follow-up survey. Outcome variables included children\u2019s nightmare frequency, sleep-wake patterns, and sleep anxiety, as well as parents\u2019 daytime sleepiness.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Significant group-by-time interaction effects were found for nightmare frequency (p = 0.001) and sleep anxiety (p = 0.006). Parents of children who received the \u201cDream Changer\u201d reported fewer nightmares (Mdifference = 1.7, p &amp;lt; 0.001, d = 1.06) and decreased anxiety (Mdifference = 0.9, p = 0.001, d =0.41) at post-intervention, whereas such benefits were not found in the waitlist control group. Three-month follow-up assessments demonstrated that gains were maintained over-time. Interaction effects were not significant for children\u2019s sleep metrics or for parents\u2019 daytime sleepiness.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The present study provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy of a brief, highly accessible intervention for reducing children\u2019s nightmares and nighttime anxiety. Future research may wish to test these effects using larger samples and longer follow-up assessments.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Clinical Trial Registration<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The trial has been registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (https:\/\/www.anzctr.org.au\/; Identifier:ACTRN12620000633987).<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/sleep\/zsac004","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,18]],"date-time":"2022-02-18T15:19:11Z","timestamp":1645197551000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["The \u201cDream Changer\u201d: a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a parent-based intervention for childhood nightmares"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"45","author":[{"given":"Stephanie","family":"Bourboulis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Education, Psychology & Social Work, Flinders 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