Nightmare disorder is a parasomnia that occurs when a person has frequent nightmares that interfere with their sleep, mood, and/or daytime functioning. While most people have nightmares from time to time, nightmare disorder is far less common. Learn the meaning of nightmare as a noun and an adjective, and see how to use it in sentences. Find out the difference between nightmare and night terror, and explore related words and phrases. Having persistent nightmares that cause distress may be a sign of nightmare disorder. Here's all you need to know. Though it's possible, it has not been confirmed whether this cycle could lead to nightmare disorder. There can be a number of psychological triggers that cause nightmares in adults.