How common are nightmares following trauma?
In the general population, few people complain of nightmares; estimates range from 3-7% (2-4) of the population. Those who have gone through trauma, regardless of its specific type, are more likely to have distressing nightmares after the event (4-6). Trauma survivors who develop PTSD are even more likely to complain of nightmares. For example, data from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study showed that nightmares occurred sometimes or more frequently in only 3% of civilian subjects. In contrast, 52% of combat Veterans with PTSD reported that level of nightmares (4). In other research using normative data, 71% of those with PTSD endorsed nightmares (7). That figure jumped to 96% of those with PTSD and a comorbid diagnosis of panic disorder. Not only are nightmares seen in a high percentage of people with PTSD, those who have nightmares may experience them quite frequently. In one study, participants with PTSD had nightmares several times a week (8).
