title: Trauma-related dreams of Australian veterans with PTSD: content, affect and phenomenology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Consensus on the parameters of trauma-related dreams required to meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is critical when: (i) the diagnosis requires a single re-experiencing symptom; and (ii) trauma dreams are prevalent in survivors without PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated the phenomenology of PTSD dreams in 40 veterans, using structured interview and self-report measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dream content varied between replay, non-replay, and mixed, but affect was largely the same as that experienced at the time of trauma across all dream types. ANOVA indicated no difference between dream types on PTSD severity or nightmare distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide preliminary support for non-replay dreams to satisfy the DSM B2 diagnostic criterion when the affect associated with those dreams is the same as that experienced at the time of the traumatic event.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, 340 Albert Street, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia. ajphelps@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creamer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D004325:Dreams / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*