Nightmares matter: rethinking suicide risk assessment and intervention in depression
Julia Maruani, Pierre A Geoffroy
Sleep April 8, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsag101 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression Dreaming |
| Keywords | Depression economics Intervention counseling Suicide risk Risk assessment Suicide prevention Poison control Clinical psychology Injury prevention Mental health Depressive symptoms |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Nightmares are repeated, lengthy, extremely dysphoric dreams with clear recall that typically involve life-threatening threats to safety or physical integrity. They cause significant distress on awakening and, together with the sleep disruption they produce, can substantially impair daytime functioning and daily life. |
Abstract
Nightmares are repeated and lengthy dreams, extremely dysphoric, with clear memory, typically involving life-threatening threats to safety or physical integrity. These nightmares lead to significant distress upon awakening and may substantially impact daytime functioning. Both the experience of these dreams and the sleep disruption produced by the ensuing awakening cause significant impairment in daily life and functioning [1–3].
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Nightmare-focused interventions and suicide prevention: clarifying the role of imagery rehearsal therapy and prazosin Sleep May 29, 2026
- Nightmare disorder and depression: Exploring a neglected clinical association. Journal of Psychiatric Research August 1, 2026
- Nightmares and suicide risk: broadening the therapeutic frame beyond Imagery Rehearsal Therapy. Sleep August 1, 2026
Cites 15
- Longitudinal associations of nightmare frequency and nightmare distress with suicidal behavior in adolescents: mediating role of depressive symptoms Sleep July 2, 2020
- Nightmare Distress as a Risk Factor for Suicide Among Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder Nature and Science of Sleep September 1, 2022
- A wake-up call for “nightmares” Sleep January 5, 2023
- Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is associated with reduced nightmare severity and depressive, anxiety and suicidal symptoms in adults with Major Depressive Episode. International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2026
- Nightmares and insomnia within the acute aftermath of trauma prospectively predict suicidal ideation. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine September 1, 2025
and 10 more in the library