Nightmares: Prevalence among the Finnish General Adult Population and War Veterans during 1972-2007

Sandman, Nils; Valli, Katja; Kronholm, Erkki; Ollila, Hanna; Revonsuo, Antti; Laatikainen, Tiina; Paunio, Tiina

doi:10.5665/sleep.2806

Cited by 127 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In agreement with previous studies, we found that the dream anxiety level of females was higher than that of males (24,25,26). Several factors might explain why females have more dream anxiety compared with males, including higher rate of dream recall frequency in females, greater vulnerability to depression, more frequent childhood trauma history, and lower androgen levels, all of which have been reported to attenuate sympathetically mediated components of the integrated central stress response (25,27,28,29,30).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Several factors might explain why females have more dream anxiety compared with males, including higher rate of dream recall frequency in females, greater vulnerability to depression, more frequent childhood trauma history, and lower androgen levels, all of which have been reported to attenuate sympathetically mediated components of the integrated central stress response (25,27,28,29,30). People who suffer from nightmares can become lucid in their dreams by performing daily exercises (31).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Survey Focusing on Lucid Dreaming, Metacognition, and Dream Anxiety in Medical Students

Yokuşoğlu

Atasoy

Tekeli

et al. 2017

Arch Neuropsychiatr

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey Focusing on Lucid Dreaming, Metacognition, and Dream Anxiety in Medical Students

Yokuşoğlu

Atasoy

Tekeli

et al. 2017

Arch Neuropsychiatr

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“…12 The findings that nightmare frequency decreases with age and women tend to report more nightmares are in line with previous population-based German samples 2,21,22 and a large sample of patients with sleep disorders, 12 thus supporting the validity of the present findings. It has to be noted that the findings regarding the decrease of nightmare frequency with age conflicts with some studies, 21,23 but the gender difference is well-documented. 24 The percentage of individuals with frequent nightmares having sought professional help (33%) is also in line with previous studies, [13][14][15][16] but interestingly, a considerable number of patients consulting a sleep clinic and suffering from nightmares have asked psychotherapists/psychologist for help-in contrast to the findings of an online study of nightmare sufferers of whom none consulted a psychologist.…”

mentioning

confidence: 40%

Interest in Information about Nightmares in Patients with Sleep Disorders

Schredl

Dehmlow

Schmitt

2016

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

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Study Objectives: Despite the considerable prevalence of the nightmare disorder and its burden on the patient, nightmares are underdiagnosed and undertreated, even in sleep centers. Methods: A total of 1,125 patients in a sleep center undergoing routine diagnostic procedures for their sleep disorders completed a questionnaire about nightmares. Results: About 20% of the sample indicated an interest in more information about nightmare etiology and nightmare therapy-even patients who had never sought professional help previously. Conclusions: From a clinical viewpoint, health care professionals should be encouraged to ask about nightmares and, as a first step, internet-based selfhelp programs should be implemented for this patient group. Keywords: nightmare disorder, imagery rehearsal therapy Citation: Schredl M, Dehmlow L, Schmitt J. Interest in information about nightmares in patients with sleep disorders. J Clin Sleep Med 2016;12(7):973-977. I NTRO DUCTI O NNightmares are defined as extended, extremely dysphoric, and well-remembered dreams that usually involve threat to survival, security, or physical integrity.1 Nightmares are experienced occasionally by many persons during their lifetime, 2 i.e., for the clinical context, it is important to differentiate between nightmares that occur rarely and the presence of a nightmare disorder (which includes the criteria that nightmares cause clinically significant distress and/or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning).1 The nightmare disorder prevalence in the general population is estimated to be about 5%, 3 and about 30% in a patient group with various mental disorders. 4 The etiology of nightmares is best explained by a disposition-stress model 5 and effective treatment strategies, like Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, are available.6 Nightmares are also of special importance in a clinical context because nightmares are an independent predictor of suicidal ideation and suicide. 7-9Despite the considerable prevalence of the nightmare disorder 3 and its burden on the patient, 10 nightmares have been rarely diagnosed and treated, even in sleep clinics: Krakow reported that 16.3% of sleep-disordered patients (n = 718) also have a salient nightmare condition that normally would not have been diagnosed if they had not specifically asked for it as part of this research project.11 Comparable results were reported by Schredl et al., 12 who found that 13.4% of the patients undergoing diagnostic procedures for various reasons in a sleep laboratory (n = 4,001) reported nightmares at least once a week, whereas a diagnosis of a nightmare disorder was given to only 1.6% of the sample. On the other hand, nightmare sufferers also rarely seek help for their problem on their own initiative. [13][14][15][16] In an online study of nightmare sufferers (n = 335), only 29.6% of the respondents reported that they had asked a health care provider for help.13 Even lower figures were reported for persons of a representative sample having nightmares at least once...

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“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] In the largest study to date (69,813 adults), the prevalence of nightmares was 3.5% in men and 4.8% in women. 10 Participants from the World War II generation had a significantly higher prevalence of 7.2% in men and 7% in women. Nightmares are more common among patients with sleep disturbances, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder However, most research evaluating sleep disorders in active duty military personnel has focused on insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and PTSD, noting that a recent study focusing on OSA and PTSD did not evaluate nightmares.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…24,25 Research on nightmares in military personnel is limited, though data suggest that veterans who have left military service have a higher prevalence than the general population. 10 The primary objective of this study was to characterize the prevalence of nightmares in United States military personnel with sleep disturbances. The secondary objective was to describe the clinical and polysomnography (PSG)-measured correlates of military personnel with nightmares.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nightmares in United States Military Personnel With Sleep Disturbances

Creamer

Brock

Matsangas

et al. 2018

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

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Study Objectives: Sleep disturbances are common in United States military personnel. Despite their exposure to combat and trauma, little is known about nightmares in this population. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and associated clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of nightmares in United States military personnel with sleep disturbances. Methods: Retrospective review of 500 active duty United States military personnel who underwent a sleep medicine evaluation and polysomnography at our sleep center. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Addendum were used to characterize clinically significant nightmares. Subjective and objective sleep attributes were compared between groups. Results: At least weekly nightmares were present in 31.2%; yet, only 3.9% reported nightmares as a reason for evaluation. Trauma-related nightmares occurred in 60% of those patients with nightmares. Patients with nightmares had increased sleep onset latency (SOL) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency (mean SOL/REM sleep latency 16.6/145 minutes, P = .02 and P = .01 respectively) compared to those without (mean SOL/REM sleep latency 12.5/126 minutes I NTRO DUCTI O NNightmares are defined by repeated occurrences of extended, extremely dysphoric, and well-remembered dreams that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. 1 Occasional nightmares are part of a normal adaptive response to life stressors and are not pathologic, with 85% of adults reporting at least one nightmare per year. 2 The prevalence of clinically significant nightmares, which occur at least once per week, is estimated between 0.9% and 6.8%. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] In the largest study to date (69,813 adults), the prevalence of nightmares was 3.5% in men and 4.8% in women. 10 Participants from the World War II generation had a significantly higher prevalence of 7.2% in men and 7% in women. Nightmares are more common among patients with sleep disturbances, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder However, most research evaluating sleep disorders in active duty military personnel has focused on insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and PTSD, noting that a recent study focusing on OSA and PTSD did not evaluate nightmares. [18][19][20] Following traumatic experiences, sleep disturbances are frequently reported, including trauma-related nightmares (TRN). 21 The nightmares of trauma survivors tend to be more severe and distressing than idiopathic nightmares. 1,3 Though not exclusive to PTSD, TRN have been referred to as the "hallmark" of this disorder, with rates as high as 90%. 22,23 Addressing nightmares as a distinct sleep disorder following a BRIEF SUMMARY Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: The spectrum of sleep disorders in military personnel is varied and complicated by the presence of comorbidities and psychological disorders. Currently, little is known regarding nightmares, especially trauma-related nig...

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Nightmares: Prevalence among the Finnish General Adult Population and War Veterans during 1972-2007

Abstract: Sandman N; Valli K; Kronholm E; Ollila HM; Revonsuo A; Laatikainen T; Paunio T. Nightmares: prevalence among the Finnish general adult population and war veterans during 1972-2007. 2013;36(7):1041-1050.

Cited by 127 publications

References 43 publications

A Survey Focusing on Lucid Dreaming, Metacognition, and Dream Anxiety in Medical Students

A Survey Focusing on Lucid Dreaming, Metacognition, and Dream Anxiety in Medical Students

Interest in Information about Nightmares in Patients with Sleep Disorders

Nightmares in United States Military Personnel With Sleep Disturbances

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