DREAMS AND RAPID EYE-MOVEMENT SLEEP IN THE MULTIPLE SLEEP LATENCY TEST

Dreams are closely associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of dreams in pr edicting the presence of R-EM sleep during naps of the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). We prospectively analyzed MSLTs performed in the evaluation of 44 patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. A total o f 167 naps were studied. The patients' ages ranged from 11 to 69 years (mean 45 years). There were 26 males and 18 females. The relationship between the presence of reported dreams and the presence of REM sleep was as follows: sensitivity (percentage of naps with REM in which dre ams were reported), 59%; specificity (percentage of naps without REM i n which no dreams were reported), 63%; positive predictive value (prob ability that REM occurred if dreaming is present), 29%; and negative p redictive value (probability that REM did not occur when no dreaming i s present), 85%. In the daytime naps of the MSLT, the presence of repo rted dreaming did not appear to be a reliable indicator of the presenc e of REM sleep in the preceding nap.