Mardrömmar

Mardrömmar is the Swedish term for nightmares: distressing or frightening dreams that often lead to awakening and are accompanied by strong emotions such as fear, anxiety, or sadness. The dream content is usually vivid and memorable, and people commonly recall the dream after waking. Nightmares most often occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and can disrupt sleep continuity, especially if they recur.

Mardrömmar are distinct from sleep disturbances such as sleep terrors (night terrors). Night terrors involve abrupt arousal from non-REM sleep, little to no memory of the event, and are typically not recalled later, whereas nightmares are remembered and experienced during or after the dream.

Causes and risk factors include psychological stress, anxiety, trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder, illness or fever, sleep deprivation, irregular sleep schedules, and certain medications or substances. They can occur in both children and adults, with children reporting them more frequently. In some cases, recurring nightmares are a component of a broader nightmare disorder, which is characterized by repeated distressing dreams causing significant sleep disturbance or impairment.

Diagnosis and management focus on the impact on daily functioning. Evaluation may address underlying mental health conditions, sleep disorders, or medication effects. Treatments include improving sleep hygiene and regular routines, cognitive behavioral approaches, and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), which involves reimagining the nightmare in a non-threatening way and rehearsing the new dream content. In cases linked to trauma or PTSD, appropriate psychotherapies such as trauma-focused therapy or EMDR are recommended. Pharmacological options are uncommon and usually reserved for specific conditions under professional guidance. If nightmares cause persistent distress or impairment, consulting a clinician is advised.