The impact of early-life maltreatment on dreams of patients with insomnia
heiDOK (Heidelberg University) January 1, 2009 Valérie Schäfer, Klaus Bader 6 citations
Bad dreams and post-traumatic nightmares commonly follow traumatic events in both children and adults. Among 37 adults with primary insomnia who recorded dreams for seven days and completed questionnaires on childhood trauma and current stress, early-life maltreatment predicted less positive dream emotions, more negative self-description in dreams, and more aggression directed at the dreamer, even after accounting for current stressors. The findings suggest traumatic events can have strong, long-lasting effects on dream emotions and content.