Nightmares

A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• Y

(Page 2)

Physical examination may include a physical, neurological, and psychological examination.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• blood tests (such as CBC or blood differential)
• liver function tests
• thyroid function tests
• EEG

If treatment options addressing stress and anxiety, medication side effects, and substance use do not resolve the problem, your health care provider may want to send you to a sleep medicine specialist who will perform a sleep study (polysomnography). In extremely rare cases, a patient needs to take special medications that suppress or reduce REM sleep, thus preventing nightmares.

After seeing your health care provider:

You may want to add a diagnosis related to recurrent nightmares to your personal medical record.

Review Date: 10/17/2005
Reviewed By: Christos Ballas, M.D., Attending Psychiatrist, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

---

---