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Nightmares

MedGen UID:
10352
•Concept ID:
C0028084
•
Sign or Symptom
Synonym: Nightmare
SNOMED CT: Nightmares (419145002)
 
HPO: HP:5200287

Definition

Frightening dreams, typically occurring during REM sleep, are normal and common in children under 10. However, they can also impact teenagers and adults. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVNightmares

Professional guidelines

PubMed

The Effects of Pharmacological Treatment of Nightmares: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trials.
Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, Bjorvatn B, Wilhelmsen-Langeland A, Zandi A, Pallesen S
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Dec 31;20(1) doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010777. PMID: 36613097Free PMC Article
Pharmacological Management of Nightmares Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Geldenhuys C, van den Heuvel LL, Steyn P, Seedat S
CNS Drugs 2022 Jul;36(7):721-737. Epub 2022 Jun 10 doi: 10.1007/s40263-022-00929-x. PMID: 35688992
Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults.
Aurora RN, Zak RS, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Maganti RK, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI; Standards of Practice Committee; American Academy of Sleep Medicine
J Clin Sleep Med 2010 Aug 15;6(4):389-401. PMID: 20726290Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Pharmacological Management of Nightmares Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Geldenhuys C, van den Heuvel LL, Steyn P, Seedat S
CNS Drugs 2022 Jul;36(7):721-737. Epub 2022 Jun 10 doi: 10.1007/s40263-022-00929-x. PMID: 35688992
Sleep, circadian system and traumatic stress.
Agorastos A, Olff M
Eur J Psychotraumatol 2021;12(1):1956746. Epub 2021 Sep 28 doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1956746. PMID: 34603634Free PMC Article
Sleep Disturbances and Suicidal Behavior.
Lopez-Castroman J, Jaussent I
Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2020;46:211-228. doi: 10.1007/7854_2020_166. PMID: 32852730
Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults.
Aurora RN, Zak RS, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Maganti RK, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI; Standards of Practice Committee; American Academy of Sleep Medicine
J Clin Sleep Med 2010 Aug 15;6(4):389-401. PMID: 20726290Free PMC Article
Sleepwalking.
Masand P, Popli AP, Weilburg JB
Am Fam Physician 1995 Feb 15;51(3):649-54. PMID: 7863961

Diagnosis

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety-Related Conditions.
Williamson JB, Jaffee MS, Jorge RE
Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2021 Dec 1;27(6):1738-1763. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000001054. PMID: 34881734
Dreams and nightmares in healthy adults and in patients with sleep and neurological disorders.
Siclari F, Valli K, Arnulf I
Lancet Neurol 2020 Oct;19(10):849-859. Epub 2020 Sep 16 doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30275-1. PMID: 32949545
Sleep Terrors: An Updated Review.
Leung AKC, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL
Curr Pediatr Rev 2020;16(3):176-182. doi: 10.2174/1573396315666191014152136. PMID: 31612833Free PMC Article
Effects of Antidepressants on Sleep.
Wichniak A, Wierzbicka A, Walęcka M, Jernajczyk W
Curr Psychiatry Rep 2017 Aug 9;19(9):63. doi: 10.1007/s11920-017-0816-4. PMID: 28791566Free PMC Article
Common sleep disorders in children.
Carter KA, Hathaway NE, Lettieri CF
Am Fam Physician 2014 Mar 1;89(5):368-77. PMID: 24695508

Therapy

Pharmacological Management of Nightmares Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Geldenhuys C, van den Heuvel LL, Steyn P, Seedat S
CNS Drugs 2022 Jul;36(7):721-737. Epub 2022 Jun 10 doi: 10.1007/s40263-022-00929-x. PMID: 35688992
Sleep Terrors: An Updated Review.
Leung AKC, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL
Curr Pediatr Rev 2020;16(3):176-182. doi: 10.2174/1573396315666191014152136. PMID: 31612833Free PMC Article
Effects of Antidepressants on Sleep.
Wichniak A, Wierzbicka A, Walęcka M, Jernajczyk W
Curr Psychiatry Rep 2017 Aug 9;19(9):63. doi: 10.1007/s11920-017-0816-4. PMID: 28791566Free PMC Article
Pharmacology for sleep disturbance in PTSD.
Lipinska G, Baldwin DS, Thomas KG
Hum Psychopharmacol 2016 Mar;31(2):156-63. Epub 2016 Feb 8 doi: 10.1002/hup.2522. PMID: 26856810
Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults.
Aurora RN, Zak RS, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Maganti RK, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI; Standards of Practice Committee; American Academy of Sleep Medicine
J Clin Sleep Med 2010 Aug 15;6(4):389-401. PMID: 20726290Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Sleep, circadian system and traumatic stress.
Agorastos A, Olff M
Eur J Psychotraumatol 2021;12(1):1956746. Epub 2021 Sep 28 doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1956746. PMID: 34603634Free PMC Article
Sleep Terrors: An Updated Review.
Leung AKC, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL
Curr Pediatr Rev 2020;16(3):176-182. doi: 10.2174/1573396315666191014152136. PMID: 31612833Free PMC Article
Trial of Prazosin for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans.
Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Chow B, Harris C, Davis-Karim A, Holmes HA, Hart KL, McFall M, Mellman TA, Reist C, Romesser J, Rosenheck R, Shih MC, Stein MB, Swift R, Gleason T, Lu Y, Huang GD
N Engl J Med 2018 Feb 8;378(6):507-517. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1507598. PMID: 29414272
Pharmacology for sleep disturbance in PTSD.
Lipinska G, Baldwin DS, Thomas KG
Hum Psychopharmacol 2016 Mar;31(2):156-63. Epub 2016 Feb 8 doi: 10.1002/hup.2522. PMID: 26856810
Common sleep disorders in children.
Carter KA, Hathaway NE, Lettieri CF
Am Fam Physician 2014 Mar 1;89(5):368-77. PMID: 24695508

Clinical prediction guides

Sleep, circadian system and traumatic stress.
Agorastos A, Olff M
Eur J Psychotraumatol 2021;12(1):1956746. Epub 2021 Sep 28 doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1956746. PMID: 34603634Free PMC Article
Sleep Terrors: An Updated Review.
Leung AKC, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL
Curr Pediatr Rev 2020;16(3):176-182. doi: 10.2174/1573396315666191014152136. PMID: 31612833Free PMC Article
Different Clinical Expression of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Assessment and Treatment.
Pop-Jordanova N
Pril (Makedon Akad Nauk Umet Odd Med Nauki) 2019 May 1;40(1):5-40. doi: 10.2478/prilozi-2019-0001. PMID: 31152643
Trial of Prazosin for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans.
Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Chow B, Harris C, Davis-Karim A, Holmes HA, Hart KL, McFall M, Mellman TA, Reist C, Romesser J, Rosenheck R, Shih MC, Stein MB, Swift R, Gleason T, Lu Y, Huang GD
N Engl J Med 2018 Feb 8;378(6):507-517. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1507598. PMID: 29414272
Pharmacology for sleep disturbance in PTSD.
Lipinska G, Baldwin DS, Thomas KG
Hum Psychopharmacol 2016 Mar;31(2):156-63. Epub 2016 Feb 8 doi: 10.1002/hup.2522. PMID: 26856810

Recent systematic reviews

The Effects of Pharmacological Treatment of Nightmares: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trials.
Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, Bjorvatn B, Wilhelmsen-Langeland A, Zandi A, Pallesen S
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Dec 31;20(1) doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010777. PMID: 36613097Free PMC Article
Evidence for Use of Cannabinoids in Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD: A Systematic Review.
Stanciu CN, Brunette MF, Teja N, Budney AJ
Psychiatr Serv 2021 Apr 1;72(4):429-436. Epub 2021 Feb 3 doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000189. PMID: 33530732Free PMC Article
Melatonin for delirium prevention in hospitalized patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Khaing K, Nair BR
J Psychiatr Res 2021 Jan;133:181-190. Epub 2020 Dec 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.12.020. PMID: 33348252
Cannabinoid therapies in the management of sleep disorders: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies.
Suraev AS, Marshall NS, Vandrey R, McCartney D, Benson MJ, McGregor IS, Grunstein RR, Hoyos CM
Sleep Med Rev 2020 Oct;53:101339. Epub 2020 May 16 doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101339. PMID: 32603954
Let's talk about sleep: a systematic review of psychological interventions to improve sleep in college students.
Friedrich A, Schlarb AA
J Sleep Res 2018 Feb;27(1):4-22. Epub 2017 Jun 15 doi: 10.1111/jsr.12568. PMID: 28618185

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