A cognitive model of recurrent nightmares

  • Victor Spoormaker (Author)
    Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Germany

Identifiers (Article)

Abstract

Nightmares are a prevalent mental disorder resulting in disturbed sleep, distress, and impairment in daily functioning. Elaborating on previous theoretical models for anxiety disorders, sleep disorders and dreaming, this study introduces a cognitive model of recurrent nightmares, the central element of which concerns representation of the nightmare’s repetitive storyline in the memory as a script. It is suggested that activation of this script during REM sleep results in a replay of the nightmare, and that activation occurs through perceived similarity between dream elements and the nightmare script. The model proposes a central role for cognitive processes in the persistence of nightmares over time. The success of cognitive-behavioural treatments is explained and clinical implications are discussed.

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Published
2008-03-21
Language
en
How to Cite
Spoormaker, V. (2008). A cognitive model of recurrent nightmares. International Journal of Dream Research, 1(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.11588/ijodr.2008.1.21