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    • Jan 28
    • 6 min read

Dreamscapes Unveiled: Developments in Maladaptive Daydreaming Research

Dear Members and Supporters,

Welcome to the January 2024 issue of the newsletter from the International Consortium for Maladaptive Daydreaming Research. As we embark on this journey together, we are excited to share with you the latest developments and findings in the field of maladaptive daydreaming. In this edition, we feature a plethora of scholarly publications, preprints, translated measures, and insightful discussions from various corners of the internet. Let's delve into the rich tapestry of research and insights that illuminate our understanding of maladaptive daydreaming.


Published peer-reviewed papers


This study aimed to shed light on the role of music in maladaptive daydreaming (MD), a psychological condition characterized by excessive, immersive daydreaming that interferes with well-being and functioning. Forty-one individuals with probable MD participated in asynchronous in-depth email interviews. A thematic analysis yielded three themes describing the role of music in MD. Two homogeneous themes pertained to outlier experiences: Music necessary and Music not desired. The third theme, Music enhances the MD experience, encompassed most of the data retrieved in this study and was further divided into five subthemes: Music avoided in “low energy” daydreaming scenes, Music as white noise, Music enhances MD creativity, Music as an MD trigger compromises the sense of agency; and Music as a powerful immerser that sets MD’s emotional “soundtrack.” This study adds to the sparse knowledge of complex visual narratives and identifies the essential role of music in inducing and formatting MD. The results led to the conclusion that music might be instrumental in MD by distancing the person from the external reality, triggering complex visual storylines, deepening the altered state of consciousness, and intensifying the vividness of the daydreamed plot by invoking an emotional response. Furthermore, hypothesis-driven controlled research was recommended.



Two previous datasets were utilized to develop the 5-item measure, labeled the Maladaptive Daydreaming Short Form (MD-SF5). Then, a large survey was conducted using the Qualtrics panel, administering the MD-SF5 alongside several validated measures of mental health to a general sample of panelists The MD-SF5 showed good to excellent agreement with the existing measure. Generally, the new sample had high psychopathology rates. Suspected MD was associatedwith psychological distress, loneliness, psychotic experiences, heavy drinking, and suicidality. Notably, even after controlling for psychological distress, suspected maladaptive daydreamers were more than twice as likely to have recently attempted suicide.



This Iranian study found a positive and significant relationship between maladaptive daydreaming and social loneliness with nurses' psychological distress (p<0.01). There is a negative and significant relationship between maladaptive daydreaming and social loneliness with nurses' job performance (p<0.01). The results of multiple regression analysis also revealed that 45% of the variance of psychological distress and 65.8% of the variance of job performance is explained by maladaptive daydreaming and social loneliness.The findings showed that during the outbreak of covid-19, the tendency of MD in people and especially in nurses to lock themselves in the world of fantasy is intensified, which in turn contributes to alienation in social relationships and social isolation, which in turn contributes to the intensification of daydreaming. And as a result, it brings psychological distress and disruption in daily and job performance; therefore, in order to prevent and design suitable interventions in this field, it is important to pay attention to MD and social isolation. 



Maladaptive daydreaming as measured by the Brazilian Poetuguese version of the MDS-16 had positive but weak correlations with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and dissociative experiences. As a result of the latent profile analysis, a cut-off score of 63 for maladaptive daydreaming was suggested. Based on this cut-off score, 18.6% of thesample could be considered maladaptive daydreamers. The general reliability of the scale was good. Overall, BMDS-16 demonstrated sound psychometric properties and applicability for general use to assess maladaptive daydreaming. The daydreaming tendency should be carefully examined in people with scores above 63, who may use fantasy in a maladaptive way, causing impairment in daily functioning and potentially conflicting with treatment.


Preprints


This study explores the intricate relationship between maladaptive daydreaming and coping skills, utilizing well-established measures like the COPE inventory and the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale. The COPE inventory assesses coping strategies, while the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale quantifies maladaptive daydreaming severity. The review investigates how coping skills mediate the association between maladaptive daydreaming and mental health challenges. The study, conducted with 386 participants, presents a comprehensive analysis of coping styles, demographic factors, and their connections to maladaptive daydreaming. Findings reveal significant yet nuanced relationships, shedding light on potential interventions and support systems for individuals grappling with maladaptive daydreaming tendencies.



This paper explores the concept of maladaptive daydreaming, a phenomenon characterized by excessive and immersive daydreaming that interferes with daily functioning. While normative daydreaming can be an adaptive behavior that may contribute to planning, future goals, and creativity, maladaptive daydreaming can lead to poor academic, interpersonal, and professional performance and increased social isolation. The study found a moderate positive correlation between maladaptive daydreaming and adverse childhood experiences, suggesting that childhood trauma may contribute to the development of maladaptive daydreaming. Maladaptive daydreaming was also significantly positively correlated with depression and anxiety, indicating potential comorbidity with these mental health concerns. The study highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of maladaptive daydreaming as a potential mental health concern, particularly for individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Interventions aimed at improving coping skills and addressing underlying trauma may be beneficial in reducing the negative impact of maladaptive daydreaming on daily functioning.



This qualitative study investigated traumatic daydreaming themes among individuals with maladaptive daydreaming (MD). Forty-one participants were interviewed regarding connections between their traumatic daydreams and real-life adversity. Specifically, we asked participants about 1) childhood trauma experiences, 2) trauma-related daydreaming, 3) perceived relationships between such daydreams and authentic experiences, and 4) difficulty distinguishing traumatic memories originating from daydreams versus actual events. Many participants reported past trauma and frequent traumatic daydream themes. However, participants also noted their daydreams often depicted corrected, more positive versions of experienced events. Finally, most participants stated they did not confuse daydreaming with actual experiences. This study provides new data on the complex interplay between trauma, memory, and daydreaming in MD.


Translated measures




This is the French translation of the Structured Clinical Interview for Maladaptive Daydreaming (SCIMD).




MD on the Internet


Yahoo!News is an online news player with 240 million monthly visitors. It is providing both breaking news and in-depth coverage over a wide breadth of categories to a sizable readership interested in current events.Recently in featured a story on immesrive daydreaming and reality shifting titled:”Tiktokers say they're 'shifting' to different realities. What does that mean?” Click here to read it.



N Life is a comprehensive lifestyle website in Turkish offering something for everyone. It's a popular resource for viewers of NTV who want to stay informed and inspired about all things related to living well. It published the following story: Uyumsuz hayal kurma (maladaptive daydreaming) hastalığı nedir, belirtileri neler? (What is maladaptive daydreaming disease and what are its symptoms?)


Sportskeeda is a global sports content platform that covers the world's biggest sports and esports subjects and serves over 100 Million fans every month. It recently featured a story titled: “Surprising facts about daydreaming you might not know”. Click here to read it. 


And finally,

Wikipedia in Arabic has uploaded an entry on MD.


In closing, let us continue to support the study of the intricate layers of maladaptive daydreaming, fostering understanding, support, and avenues for healing in our shared journey ahead.


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