Physiological-emotional reactivity to nightmare-related imagery in trauma-exposed persons with chronic nightmares.
Script-driven imagery was used to assess nightmare imagery-evoked physiological-emotional reactivity (heart rate, skin conductance, facial electromyogram, subjective ratings) in trauma-exposed persons suffering from chronic nightmares. Goals were to determine the efficacy of nightmare imagery to evoke physiological-emotional reactivity, correlates (mental health, nightmare characteristics) of reactivity, and consequences (sleep and health problems) of reactivity. Nightmare imagery resulted in significant reactivity relative to control imagery. No mental health variable (posttraumatic stress disorder status, depressive symptoms, dissociation) or nightmare characteristic (months experienced, frequency, similarity to trauma) was associated with reactivity level. However, nightmare imagery-evoked autonomic responses were associated with greater sleep disturbance and reported health symptoms, even when nightmare frequency was controlled. These results suggest nightmare-related autonomic reactions may contribute to sleep and health disturbance.
Rhudy
Jamie L
JL
Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA.jamie-rhudy@utulsa.edu
Davis
Joanne L
JL
Williams
Amy E
AE
McCabe
Klanci M
KM
Byrd
Patricia M
PM
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004325:Dreams; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires