Post-traumatic nightmares and the family.
The authors conducted a systematic investigation of nightmares in consecutive admissions to an inpatient unit at a Veteran Administration hospital for a six-month period. Fifteen of the 41 nightmare sufferers identified their nightmares as post-traumatic. Examination of the nightmares in the light of family histories revealed that familial dysfunction from many points in the nightmare sufferers' life histories found clear-cut representation in the nightmare scenario. In this sample, post-traumatic nightmares dealt not only with the identified trauma, but also with a lifelong continuum of family stresses for which the traumatic scene served as a screen.
Lansky
M R
MR
Family Treatment Program, Brentwood Division, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, CA.
Karger
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D004325:Dreams; D005190:Family; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology