Nightmare Disorder

Nightmare disorder, also known as dream anxiety disorder, is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent nightmares. The nightmares, which often portray the individual in a situation that jeopardizes their life or personal safety, usually occur during the REM stages of sleep.

 

Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW136
Diagnosis: Nightmare Disorder
US Patients: 4% of adults; 1% of children
World Patients:
Sex Ratio: M;W2
Age Onset:
Brain Area:
Symptoms: frequent nightmares involving personal safety, usually occurring during REM stages of sleep; remembers every detail of the dream
Progression: does not wake up screaming, but reduce daytime efficiencies from being “tired”; fear and physical aggression are the most common
Causes: PTSD, extreme stress, death of a loved one; 30% have other psychiatric illnesses
Medications: several antipsychotic medicines have reduced nightmares; hypnosis and relaxation may also help
Therapies: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) have helped portions of those with PTSD or other threatening experiences.

Youtube Video: Nightmares and Treatment

Amazon or Library Book: Nightmareland

Click the book to link or buy from Amazon.

Support Group: sleepeducation.org; 630-737-9700

(American Academy of Sleep Medicine)

4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED

The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis 

Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.

  • Exacerbation of central serous chorioretinopathy during trauma-confronting psychotherapy- a case report
    by Eva Schäflein on May 16, 2024

    CONCLUSION: Central serous chorioretinopathy may exacerbate upon psychotherapeutic treatment. In this case, an exacerbation of chorioretinopathy was observed in direct relation to the therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapists and ophthalmologists should collaborate in the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with chorioretinopathy. Our case demonstrates the need to consider the possible increased stress levels during psychotherapy and resulting physical side effects, such as exacerbation of...

  • The relationships between insomnia, nightmares, and dreams: A systematic review
    by Julia-Pizzamiglio Delage on May 11, 2024

    Insomnia and nightmares are both prevalent and debilitating sleep difficulties. The present systematic review aims to document the relationships between insomnia and nightmares in individuals without a concomitant psychopathology. The relationships between insomnia and dreams are also addressed. PsycINFO and Medline were searched for papers published in English or French from 1970 to March 2023. Sixty-seven articles were included for review. Most results support positive relationships between...

  • The new nursing professions in psychiatry: One man's dream, another man's nightmare?
    by Baptiste Gaudelus on May 8, 2024

    The deployment of case management and advanced nursing practice is shaking up the roles of the various professionals on mental health teams, and the usual organization of care in psychiatry. These changes can be perceived as either positive or worrying, depending on each individual's role and position. For the past 3 years, the mobile teams of the Centre rive gauche cluster at Le Vinatier hospital have been organized according to the principles of Flexible Assertive Community Treatment, and...

  • Associations of Nightmares and Sleep Disturbance With Neurobehavioral Symptoms Postconcussion
    by Afik Faerman on May 6, 2024

    CONCLUSIONS: Nightmares and sleep disturbance are differentially associated with variance in neurobehavioral symptoms. Nightmares were independently associated with neurobehavioral symptoms representing an excess of normal functioning (eg, anxiety, impulsivity), while general sleep disturbance was associated with neurobehavioral symptoms representing functioning below normal levels (eg, depression, fatigue, self-reported executive dysfunction). Clinical and research implications are discussed.