[Nightmares in the bedroom of science: mapping of a neglected sleep disorder].

Nightmares affect about 4% of adults weekly and are often linked to other mental health issues, but recent evidence suggests nightmare disorder is distinct from waking mental dysfunctions. It is closely tied to poor subjective sleep quality, and polysomnographic studies show increased sleep fragmentation and hyper-arousal in affected individuals. These findings indicate that nightmare disorder should be treated as a specific sleep disorder rather than a purely psychopathological condition. However, clinicians should also assess co-morbid mental disorders and the severity of nightmare distress, which may mediate the relationship between nightmare frequency and waking mental problems.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Nightmares are intense and unpleasant dream experiences that characterize approximately 4 percent of the adult population at least on a weekly basis. Nightmare frequency is often co-morbid with other mental complaints; however, recent results indicate that nightmare disorder is independent from waking mental dysfunctions. Nightmare disorder is intimately related to poor subjective sleep quality, and according to polysomnographic studies nightmare subjects' sleep is characterized by increased sleep fragmentation and hyper-arousal. These findings suggest that instead of the psychopathological perspective nightmare disorder should be viewed as a specific sleep disorder that requires targeted treatment. Nevertheless, in order to choose the adequate treatment procedure clinicians should examine the co-morbid mental disorders as well taking into consideration the severity of nightmare distress, the latter supposed to be the mediator between nightmare frequency and waking mental dysfunctions.