Nightmare disorder

Nightmare disorder, also known as dream anxiety disorder, is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent nightmares. The nightmares, which often portray the individual in a situation that jeopardizes their life or personal safety, usually occur during the REM stages of sleep. Though most people have experienced at least one nightmare during their life, subjects with nightmare disorder experience them with a greater frequency. The disorder's DSM-IV number is 307.47. Nightmare disorder, also known as dream anxiety disorder, is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent nightmares. The nightmares, which often portray the individual in a situation that jeopardizes their life or personal safety, usually occur during the REM stages of sleep. Though most people have experienced at least one nightmare during their life, subjects with nightmare disorder experience them with a greater frequency. The disorder's DSM-IV number is 307.47. Nightmare disorders are included in the parasomnias, which cover all the unusual behaviours during sleep. Nightmare disorders can be confused with sleep terror disorders. The difference is that after a sleep terror episode, the patient wakes up with more dramatic symptom than for a nightmare disorder, such as screaming and crying. Furthermore, he doesn't remember the reason of the fear, while the patient with a nightmare disorder does remember every detail of the dream. Finally, the sleep terrors usually occur during NREM Sleep. Nightmares also have to be distinguished from bad dreams, which are less emotionally intense . Furthermore, nightmares contain more stories of aggression than bad dreams and more unhappy endings. Finally, people experiencing nightmares feel more fear than for bad dreams. The treatment depends on if it is due to PTSD or not. About 4% of people are affected.