On 22 and 23 September 2026, experts will discuss the latest developments in nightmare research at a digital symposium.
Many people are familiar with this: one moment you were fleeing from a wild animal or plummeting into the depths in free fall – and suddenly you wake up from a nightmare. This happens to around 13 per cent of Germans at least once a week, according to a survey commissioned by *Spektrum der Wissenschaft* in 2022.
“Nightmares can be distressing, especially when they occur frequently. There are many possible causes: stress, anxiety or even mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder can play a role here,” says Jonas Mathes, research assistant in the field of psychology at SRH University.
For the third time, SRH University is hosting the ‘Nightmare Symposium’ on 22–23 September 2026 to discuss the latest findings and developments in nightmare research. The digital event offers experts from various disciplines the opportunity to present their research in talks and to engage in discussion with fellow specialists and the general public.
The presentations will be delivered in English. The following topics will be available to choose from in each one-hour time slot:
Day 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 Suicidal 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]).
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