Citation

Duval M, Zadra A. Sleep Med. Clin. 2010; 5(2): 249-260.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsmc.2010.01.003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sleep disturbances and dream-related disorders play a prominent role in trauma victims' clinical profile. Although some progress has been made in understanding the impact of sleep mechanisms and nightmares in the development, maintenance, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is known about the actual content of trauma-related dreams beyond the more strictly defined PTSD nightmares. This article presents key methodological issues, reviews findings on dream recall frequency following trauma exposure, examines the incidence of dream-related disorders as a function of trauma characteristics and personality variables, and reviews findings on the relationship between dream content and specific types of traumas. It is concluded that greater clinical and research efforts should be directed at understanding the natural course and impact of dream-related disorders as well as normal dream processes in trauma victims.