The phenomenology of nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Simos, A; Berle, D

The phenomenology of nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Simos, A Berle, D

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 2023, 7, (3), pp. 100335
Issue Date:: 2023-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Simos, A
dc.contributor.author	Berle, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4861-2220
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-14T02:54:03Z
dc.date.available	2023-09-14T02:54:03Z
dc.date.issued	2023-09-01
dc.identifier.citation	European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 2023, 7, (3), pp. 100335
dc.identifier.issn	2468-7499
dc.identifier.issn	2468-7499
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172094
dc.description.abstract	Introduction: Nightmares are a re-experiencing symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). They are intrusive, involuntary and have a significant impact on wellbeing, suggesting they have substantial clinical relevance. However, little is known about the phenomenological features of post-traumatic nightmares and how they are associated with the severity of PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Method: Participants (N = 398) who identified that they had experienced a lifetime trauma completed various self-report questionnaires related to PTSD symptoms, CPTSD symptoms and nightmare characteristics. Participants also described their sensory experiences and rated the emotional intensity and vividness of their post-traumatic nightmares. Results: We found that elevated scores on various characteristics of nightmares including frequency of awakenings, nightmare severity, impact on wellbeing and the perceived realism of the nightmare were linked to more severe PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Further, increased frequency, vividness, and emotional intensity of nightmares significantly predicted more severe PTSD symptoms but not CPTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Our study was largely exploratory and was the first to identify that specific nightmare features are related to PTSD and CPTSD symptom severity. However, although nightmare features of frequency, vividness and intensity appear to be related to CPTSD symptom severity, other variables may better predict CPTSD symptoms. Possible explanations for our findings, implications for treatment and directions for future research are discussed.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ejtd.2023.100335
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	5203 Clinical and health psychology
dc.title	The phenomenology of nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-09-14T02:54:02Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	7
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Introduction: Nightmares are a re-experiencing symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). They are intrusive, involuntary and have a significant impact on wellbeing, suggesting they have substantial clinical relevance. However, little is known about the phenomenological features of post-traumatic nightmares and how they are associated with the severity of PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Method: Participants (N = 398) who identified that they had experienced a lifetime trauma completed various self-report questionnaires related to PTSD symptoms, CPTSD symptoms and nightmare characteristics. Participants also described their sensory experiences and rated the emotional intensity and vividness of their post-traumatic nightmares. Results: We found that elevated scores on various characteristics of nightmares including frequency of awakenings, nightmare severity, impact on wellbeing and the perceived realism of the nightmare were linked to more severe PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Further, increased frequency, vividness, and emotional intensity of nightmares significantly predicted more severe PTSD symptoms but not CPTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Our study was largely exploratory and was the first to identify that specific nightmare features are related to PTSD and CPTSD symptom severity. However, although nightmare features of frequency, vividness and intensity appear to be related to CPTSD symptom severity, other variables may better predict CPTSD symptoms. Possible explanations for our findings, implications for treatment and directions for future research are discussed.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172094