Proposed Cut Scores for the Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS) Among Nonclinical Samples: An Analog Study
Emily O. Cooper, William E. Kelly
Individual Differences Research December 1, 2023 DOI: 10.65030/idr.21006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 480 |
| Population | Undergraduate participants |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Discriminative model Scale ratio Dream Rating scale Distressing Psychometrics Clinical psychology |
| Key findings | A cut score of ≥9 on the Nightmare Experience Scale is suitable for identifying potential clinically salient nightmares in nonclinical populations. |
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.