A new study suggests that frequent nightmares in kids may be an early sign of a looming psychotic disorder. Researchers recommend early intervention to prevent kids from having psychosis later in life.
Researchers from the University of Warwick found that kids who experience frequent nightmares are at higher risk of developing mental illness when they reach adulthood.
They followed about 6,800 kids aged 2.5 to nine. They also interviewed the parents of the participants to gather data on the frequency of nightmares. They then interviewed the kids after they turned 12 years old about their nightmares, night terrors, sleep walking, and psychotic experiences, including delusions and hallucinations.
They found that the majority of the kids who had nightmares during their younger years were the ones who reported psychotic experiences at age 12.
Furthermore, they found that kids who reported parasomnias, like night terror and sleepwalking, at the age of 12 were three-an-a-half times prone to developing psychosis. Kids, who are experiencing regular nightmares, on the other hand, are almost 100 percent at risk to having the disorder.
Nightmares happen when the kid is woken while having a bad dream, while night terrors happen when kids are partially aroused from the sleep. With night terror, the kids may appear asleep, his body appears somehow awale and emotionally reactive to the dream.
"Nightmares are relatively common, as are night terrors, it is quite normal, but if they persist then there maybe something more serious about it," said study co-researcher Dieter Wolke, a professor at the Department of Psychology and Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing at the University of Warwick, to BBC News.
He added, "Sleep hygiene is very important, they should have more regular sleep, avoid anxiety-promoting films before bed and not have a computer at night."
Researchers also advised parents to wake the child up immediately during night terrors and provide a safe home environment as they may sometimes run around.
Further details on this study can be read in the March 1 issue of Sleep.
