Proposed Cut Scores for the Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS) Among Nonclinical Samples: An Analog Study

A scale called the Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS) can accurately identify people who may have clinically salient nightmares, even in a nonclinical sample. In a study of 480 undergraduates, the NExS showed strong ability to distinguish those with possible clinically salient nightmares from controls, with an area under the curve of .941. A cut score of 9 or higher was found to be suitable for detecting potential cases. The findings suggest the NExS is a useful screening tool, but further research with clinical interviews is needed to confirm its value in clinical settings.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This study employed an analog design to evaluate optimal cut scores for the Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS) to identify individuals with possible clinically salient nightmares (CSNs) in a nonclinical sample. Undergraduate participants (N = 480) completed the NExS, the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), and the SLEEP-50 Nightmare Scale (S50-N). Using established DDNSI and S50-N thresholds, participants were classified into possible CSN and control groups. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted to evaluate NExS accuracy. The NExS demonstrated strong discriminative ability (AUC = .941) in distinguishing between positive and negative cases of possible CSNs. Sensitivity and specificity indices indicated that a cut score of ≥9 is suitable for identifying potential CSNs in nonclinical populations. Future studies incorporating clinical interviews are warranted to determine the scale’s utility for detecting clinically meaningful nightmare presentations in clinical settings.