Nightmares in the general population: identifying potential causal factors
Stephanie Rek1, Bryony Sheaves2, Daniel Freeman2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK. stephanie.rek@psych.ox.ac.uk.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|July 17, 2017
Summary
Beyond negative affect, worry, depersonalization, hallucinatory experiences, and paranoia predict nightmare occurrence and severity. These factors offer new insights into why some individuals experience distressing nightmares, even without significant trauma.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Nightmares are distressing and disrupt sleep, often linked to psychiatric conditions like PTSD.
- While negative affect is a known trigger, it doesn't explain all nightmare experiences.
- Empirical research on nightmare predictors beyond negative affect is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors beyond negative affect that predict nightmare occurrence and severity.
- To explore the roles of worry, depersonalization, hallucinatory experiences, and paranoia in nightmares.
Main Methods:
- An online survey assessed nightmare occurrence/severity, negative affect, worry, depersonalization, hallucinatory experiences, paranoia, alcohol use, sleep duration, physical activity, PTSD symptoms, and stressful life events in 846 UK adults.
- Statistical analyses controlled for negative affect, PTSD symptoms, and recent stressful life events.
Main Results:
- Nightmare occurrence was associated with higher levels of worry, depersonalization, hallucinatory experiences, paranoia, and sleep duration, even after controlling for negative affect.
- Nightmare severity was similarly linked to worry, depersonalization, hallucinatory experiences, and paranoia.
- Alcohol use and physical activity levels showed no significant association with nightmares.
Conclusions:
- Worry, depersonalization, hallucinatory experiences, and paranoia are significant predictors of nightmare occurrence and severity.
- These findings suggest potential mechanisms beyond negative affect that contribute to nightmare experiences.
- Further longitudinal and experimental research is needed to confirm causal relationships and inform treatments.
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