Online
On 22 and 23 September 2026, experts will discuss the latest developments in nightmare research at a digital symposium.
Why do we dream about the things that frighten us?
You’re running for your life, being chased or suddenly plummeting into the abyss – and then you wake up drenched in sweat. Almost everyone has had nightmares. For around 13 per cent of Germans, they are even a regular feature of their sleep at least once a week. This is shown by a survey commissioned by *Spektrum der Wissenschaft* in 2022.
But why do we have nightmares – and what lies behind them? “Nightmares can be very distressing, especially when they occur frequently. The causes are varied: stress and anxiety can play a role, as can mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder,” explains Jonas Mathes, a research assistant in the Department of Psychology at SRH University.
Research, discussion and new insights
What science currently knows about nightmares and which questions remain unanswered will be the focus of the SRH University’s ‘Nightmare Symposium’. On 22 and 23 September 2026, experts from various disciplines will come together online for the third time to present and discuss the latest research findings, new perspectives and developments in nightmare research.
The event is aimed at fellow professionals as well as anyone interested in the scientific study of dreams and nightmares. In their presentations, the speakers will outline their current research and then invite participants to engage in professional discussion.
The presentations will be held in English. A range of fascinating topics from the field of nightmare research will be covered in one-hour time slots:
Session 1: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
- Nightmares Across Cultures: Sociocultural Perspectives in Nightmare Research
- Rethinking Nightmare Classification: Evidence From Trauma Exposure, Distress, and Thematic Content Among Treatment-Seeking Youth
- Sleep Loss and Combat Stress: Dreams, Nightmares, and Hallucinatory Experiences
4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- Nightmares Are Associated With Distress and Poor Health-Related Quality of Life in Persistent Pain — A Red Flag for Clinicians
- Beyond Neuroticism and Trauma? Negative Memory Activation and Nightmare Frequency
- Nightmares in Mood Disorders: From Suicide Risk to Therapeutic Interventions
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
- EEG Characteristics of Nightmares
- Nightmare Coping Strategies and Their Association with the Big Five Personality Traits
Day 2: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
- Chronic Nightmares and CBT
- Treatment of Traumatic Nightmares: Towards Their Integration into PTSD Clinical Practice Guidelines
- RE-DREAM-VR: REscripting Disturbing DREams With Augmented Multi-Sensory Virtual Reality
4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- Efficacy of a Web Application as a Self-Help Intervention for Nightmares: A Randomised Controlled Trial
- Nightmare Engineering: Current Status and Future Directions in Nightmare Treatment
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
- Lucid Dream Control and Nightmare Treatment
- Lucid Dreaming Treatment for a Schoolchild’s Nightmare Disorder: A Retrospective Case Report
The symposium will be held via Zoom. Anyone interested can register by emailing Jonas Mathes ([email protected]).
Research Associate