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The Nightmare Quiz

You awake with a start - palms sweating, heart bounding. You drift back to sleep only to find yourself back in "The Nightmare Quiz".

A multiple-choice quiz by uglybird. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
uglybird

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
260,957

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
3244

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 85 (7/10), Guest 104 (6/10), Guest 47 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The term "nightmare" originally described not only a bad dream but also the supernatural being that brought it. To which of the following did the Middle English word "nightmare" refer? Hint

A banshee

A poltergeist

A male incubus

A female goblin

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Question 2 of 10

2. Concern about mental illness has replaced the concern that frequent nightmares are an indication of demonic activity. According to the DSM-IV, how often must nightmares occur in adults before the patient having them may qualify as having Nightmare Disorder (DSM-IV-TR #307.47)? Hint

Weekly

Nightly

Monthly

Over three times nightly

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Question 3 of 10

3. An identical twin of a person with nightmares is more likely to have them.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. Although nightmares can constitute a psychiatric diagnosis in themselves, they may be associated with other psychiatric disorders. Which of the following psychiatric disorders may have frequent nightmares as a feature? Hint

All of them

Depression

Post traumatic stress disorder

Schizophrenia

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Question 5 of 10

5. Following emotional trauma a child or young adult develops frequent nightmares. No other psychiatric symptoms or disorders are present. Which of the following is the most likely outcome? Hint

Serious psychiatric pathology will develop.

Long term psychiatric hospitalization will be required.

Long term treatment with mutiple medications will be required.

The person will "grow out of it".

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Question 6 of 10

6. Sleep is divided into stages. In which stage of sleep is a nightmare most likely to occur? Hint

Stage III

Nightmares are equally likely to occur in any sleep stage.

Stage IV

REM sleep

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Question 7 of 10

7. Night terrors are distinct from nightmares. In what way are they different? Hint

Patients with night terrors are difficult to awake.

Patients with night terrors typically have dramatic movements during sleep.

Patients with night terrors are less likely to remember them.

They differ in all these ways.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Although simple nightmares generally do not require treatment with medication, on occasion sedatives (benzodiazepines) or tricyclic antidepressant medications are prescribed. Which of these drugs may increase nightmares? Hint

Both

Benzodiazepines

Neither

Tricyclic antidepressants

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Question 9 of 10

9. Avoidance of factors that provoke nightmares is an important part of treatment. Which of the following need not be avoided? Hint

Emotional stress

Fatigue

Warm baths

Frightening stories, movies or quizzes

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Question 10 of 10

10. When a small child has a monster dream, should a flashlight search of the closet for monsters be made?

Yes

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 15 2024 : Guest 85: 7/10
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 104: 6/10
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 47: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The term "nightmare" originally described not only a bad dream but also the supernatural being that brought it. To which of the following did the Middle English word "nightmare" refer?

Answer: A female goblin

Nightmares were originally identified with the female demon or goblin that brought them. Some might maintain that a modern over confidence in psychiatry has replaced our earlier belief in the spirit world. Others would object such demonization of a scientific medical discipline.

Answer: Weekly

It would be unfair to say that having frequent nightmares has gone from meaning one is demonized to indicating that one is nuts... wouldn't it? What is undeniable is that those who experience frequent nightmares can become miserable enough to seek help and that nightmares are associated with other emotions difficulties.

3. An identical twin of a person with nightmares is more likely to have them.

Answer: True

E-Medicine's nightmare website (http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1609.htm) indicates that approximately 7% of nightmares are familial. Studies comparing nightmare frequency in identical and non-identical twins confirm that susceptibility has a genetic component. Twin studies also confirm the association with diagnosis of other psychiatric disorders.

Answer: All of them

Nightmares add to the burden of having PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, and delirium. At times what seems to be a nightmare may in fact be a seizure.

5. Following emotional trauma a child or young adult develops frequent nightmares. No other psychiatric symptoms or disorders are present. Which of the following is the most likely outcome?

Answer: The person will "grow out of it".

Nightmare Disorder (DSM-IV-TR #307.47) typically begins in childhood or young adulthood and spontaneously remits. This disorder should be distinguished from nightmares occurring in association with other more complicated psychiatric disorders.

6. Sleep is divided into stages. In which stage of sleep is a nightmare most likely to occur?

Answer: REM sleep

Dreams generally occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Generally the sleeper does not move or speak, although the exceptions to this rule may be quite memorable. On awakening, the sleeper usually can be calmed down and convinced that a dream has been experienced. Details are best recalled immediately after awakening.

7. Night terrors are distinct from nightmares. In what way are they different?

Answer: They differ in all these ways.

Night terrors belong to a group of sleep disorders termed "parasomnias". Parasomnias tend to afflict children and include sleep walking and bed wetting. They typically occur in what is termed "slow-wave sleep", unlike nightmares which occur in REM sleep.

Answer: Both

A wide variety of medications may be associated with nightmares including stimulant medications, certain blood pressure medications, anti-parkinsonian drugs, antidepressants and sedatives. Even the medications most often used for treatment may instead cause increase in the frequency of bad dreams.

9. Avoidance of factors that provoke nightmares is an important part of treatment. Which of the following need not be avoided?

Answer: Warm baths

Tiredness, stress and exposure to frightening material are all well known to increase the probability of nightmare occurrence. Treatment of fever may also prevent nightmares in susceptible individuals. Repeating (rehearsing) bad dreams with others is also felt to be preventative.

10. When a small child has a monster dream, should a flashlight search of the closet for monsters be made?

Answer: No

Early childhood is the time at which we are most likely to experience nightmares. According to Rakel's "Textbook of Family Medicine" a monster search is most likely to increase a child's fears. Small children, according to the text, should also not be asked to rehearse the dream.

Unfortunately, most childhood nightmares occur late in the sleep cycle (4-6 am), and the typical parent is not at his/her best at that time of night. The Website http://www.sleepdisordersguide.com/nightmares.html suggests that parents comfort the child, leave the bedroom door open, talk about the bad dreams during the day, avoid frightening movies and shows, allow the child to have a security blanket and let the child sleep in their own bed.

Source: Author uglybird

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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