Nightmares

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A nightmare is a dream occurring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that brings out feelings of strong, inescapable fear, terror, distress, or extreme anxiety. They typically occur in the latter part of the night and usually awaken the sleeper, who is able to recall the content of the dream. See also night terror; sleep disorders.

Dreams - bad; Bad dreams

Nightmares tend to be more common among children and decrease in frequency toward adulthood. About 50% of adults experience occasional nightmares, women more often than men.

Eating just prior to going to bed, which raises the body's metabolism and brain activity, may cause nightmares to occur more often. Adults who experience repeated nightmares that become a significant problem should seek help.

• anxiety or stress are the most common cause: a major life event precedes the onset of nightmares in 60% of cases
• illness with a fever
• death of a loved one (bereavement)
• adverse reaction to or side effect of a drug
• recent withdrawal from a drug such as sleeping pills
• effect of alcohol or excessive alcohol consumption
• abrupt alcohol withdrawal
• breathing disorder in sleep (sleep apnea)
• sleep disorders (narcolepsy, sleep terror disorder)

Review Date: 10/17/2005
Reviewed By: Christos Ballas, M.D., Attending Psychiatrist, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.