#19 - Nightmares and Night Terrors: Whatever You Do, Don't Fall Asleep

On this special Halloween edition, we will wander into the dark and terrifying forest of nightmares and night terrors. In this episode, we will:

• Explore the origin of the term nightmare
• Differentiate nightmares from bad dreams and learn what constitutes the diagnosis of nightmare disorder
• List other REM-related parasomnias besides nightmare disorder (like isolated sleep paralysis (Episode 16), REM Behavior Disorder, and catathrenia
• Characterize the prevalence of nightmares and nightmare disorder as well as its risk factors
• Look in depth at treatments in particular Image Rehearsal Therapy and the newer Targeted Memory Reactivation technique
• Name medications sometimes employed in nightmare disorder therapy
• Define night terrors and other non-REM-related parasomnias like sleep talking (somniloquy), sleepwalking (somnambulism), sleep-related eating disorder (SRED), and various sexsomnias
• Characterize the prevalence of night terrors as well as their risk factors
• Review treatments and best practices for these disorders

Produced by: Maeve Winter

More

• Twitter: @drchriswinter
• IG: @drchriwinter
• Threads: @drchriswinter
• Bluesky: @drchriswinter
• The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!