Proposed Cut Scores for the Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS) Among Nonclinical Samples: An Analog Study
Author(s): Emily O. Cooper, William E. Kelly
Abstract: This study employed an analog design to evaluate optimal cut scores for the Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS) to identify individuals with possible clinically salient nightmares (CSNs) in a nonclinical sample. Undergraduate participants (N = 480) completed the NExS, the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), and the SLEEP-50 Nightmare Scale (S50-N). Using established DDNSI and S50-N thresholds, participants were classified into possible CSN and control groups. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted to evaluate NExS accuracy. The NExS demonstrated strong discriminative ability (AUC = .941) in distinguishing between positive and negative cases of possible CSNs. Sensitivity and specificity indices indicated that a cut score of ≥9 is suitable for identifying potential CSNs in nonclinical populations. Future studies incorporating clinical interviews are warranted to determine the scale’s utility for detecting clinically meaningful nightmare presentations in clinical settings.
Keywords: Nightmare Experience Scale (NExS); Clinically salient nightmares; Nightmare assessment; Receiver operating characteristics; Cut-score validation; Sleep disturbance; Nonclinical sample
Article: e21006
Download Full Article: Click here