Sourced from KOAT Channel 7 - Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --

A new sleep clinic opened in Albuquerque Friday with the sole aim of helping people who suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

"Most people with PTSD have insomnia and nightmares. It's almost a given," said Dr. Barry Krakow of the Maimonides Sleep Center.

The effects are devastating for them and others.

"Parasomnia conditions, very disruptive sleep" are common, said Krakow. "They could actually act out their dreams and move around and hurt somebody."

Krakow said he's been treating people with sleeping problems for years, helping them with their nightmares. Recently he's seen a growing problem.

"There clearly is a rise, or at least an awareness of PTSD that's growing in the community," Krakow said.

Friday he unveiled a new PTSD sleep clinic.

Technique promises to put an end to nightmares

The technique that Barry Krakow helped develop called therapy training imagery. It is to teach patients to build positive images for them to reappear during sleep.

"The treatment is called imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT). It's a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing harmful thought patterns. It's not the only nightmare therapy, but it is gaining ground, says physician Barry Krakow, a sleep specialist who runs the Maimonides International Nightmare Treatment Center in Albuquerque. "

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