Idiopathic and Posttrauma Nightmares in a Clinical Sample of Children and Adolescents: Characteristics and Related Pathology

Abstract

Nightmares occur commonly during childhood and adolescence as a part of normal childhood development and in response to a traumatic event. Although nightmares are known to be associated with psychological distress, few studies have examined potential differences between idiopathic nightmare sufferers and those whose nightmares began after exposure to a traumatic event (posttrauma). The present study examined such differences in 47 trauma-exposed children and adolescents attending an outpatient treatment facility. It was hypothesized that individuals with posttrauma nightmares would have increased posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, anxiety, depression, and decreased sleep quality versus those with idiopathic nightmares or no nightmares. Results found that, in general, nightmares are associated with increased distress and impairment, and those with posttrauma nightmares fared worse on several measures of distress than those with idiopathic nightmares or no nightmares. Implications of the current study and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• nightmares
• sleep disturbance
• trauma
• posttraumatic stress disorder