Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate all known and hypothesized predictors for nightmare frequency measures in a population with frequent nightmares. A total of 666 Internet-recruited participants completed questionnaires on nightmares, sleep, and psychopathology, 146 of whom further completed a subsequent 7-day diary. In contrast to previous research, comparison of questionnaire- and diary-measured nightmare frequency revealed a significantly higher log-transformed nightmare frequency on the questionnaire: t(127) = 4.43; P < 0.001. No differences were found regarding the number of nights with nightmares, t(127) = 0.61; P = 0.54. Regression analyses showed that subjective sleep quality was the only variable significantly associated with nightmare frequency variables in the whole sample (R2adj between 10.5-11.5%; P < 0.01). These results support the notion that nightmares are independent from other mental complaints in a population of nightmare sufferers and should therefore be viewed from a sleep medicine perspective: as a sleep disorder that can and should receive specific attention and treatment.
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Lancee, J., Spoormaker, V.I. & Van Den Bout, J. Nightmare frequency is associated with subjective sleep quality but not with psychopathology. Sleep Biol. Rhythms 8, 187–193 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2010.00447.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2010.00447.x