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Previous research has found that persons who experience frequent nightmares score highly on scales that measure psychotic symptomatology. Neurotic symptoms have also been implicated as correlates of nightmare frequency. In this study, 30 adult lifelong nightmare sufferers were compared with 30 control subjects, matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Subjects were asked to record all dreams for 1 month and to complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Nightmare subjects scored significantly higher on the EPQ Neuroticism scale and on 8 MMPI clinical scales than did the control group. These scales also best discriminated between the groups in a direct discriminant analysis. The results are interpreted as a reflection of global maladjustment rather than of specific psychotic symptomatology.

This study compared the psychometric properties of two scales designed to measure attitudes towards and beliefs about pain. The Survey of Pain Attitudes (Revised) SOPA(R) (Jensen and Karoly 1987) and the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBPI) (Williams and Thorn 1989) were examined in terms of internal consistency, discriminant validity, factor structure, construct validity and sensitivity to age and gender effects. Results provided strong support for the SOPA(R) as a useful measurement tool for use with patients with chronic low back pain. Further work is suggested for the PBPI, as the reported factor structure was not replicated. Discussion centered around the possible reasons for this finding, with issues such as the possible orientation of different treatment facilities, the possible differences in attitudes between patients with different types of pain, and the possible influence of length of years in pain or the receipt of workers compensation payments being considered.

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