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Several MD papers were recently published in psychology journals in Iran, Iraq and, Indonesia. We are delighted that awareness of MD is promoted in west and south Asia. For example:
Iranian scholars Sabzban and Safaei (2021) published a paper showing that psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression influence celebrity worship in Iran through the mediation of desire for fame and maladaptive daydreaming. The paper was published in the Persian language in Sport Psychology Studies, 10(37), 179-206. (English abstract). DOI: 10.22089/spsyj.2021.9537.2051
A case study of maladaptive daydreaming was presented by Wijava (2021) and titled: Self-Concept in Early Adulthood Experiencing Maladaptive Daydreaming. The paper was published in the Indonesian language in Al-Qalb: Jurnal Psikologi Islam, 12(2), 179-193.
A team of Iraqi scientists published a paper on the prevalence of maladaptive daydreaming among Basra medical students. Click here to read the paper.
We were also delighted to discover a Portuguese version of the 2009 case study by Schupak and Rosenthal published in Consciousness and Cognition in 2009. It was the second MD paper ever published. Here is the linked reference:
Schupak, C., & Rosenthal, J. (2009). Sonho excessivo: Uma história verídica e discussão sobre a mente errante e a alta propensão à fantasia. Consciência e Cognição. Retrieved from https://cdn-cms.f-static.com/uploads/436421/normal_59b67b34ac73d.pdf (in Portuguese).
MD research is also picking up among students. For example:
An undergraduate psychology thesis was submitted by Ranat Subh (2021).
It was titled 'Maladaptive Daydreaming: the unofficially recognized disorder' The manuscript was submitted to the Amity Institue of Behavioral & Allied Sciences in Mumbai, India. Click here to read it.
University of Indiana student Hasan Demirbas presented a paper on maladaptive daydreaming impact on impulsivity at a University of Indiana online conference. Click here to read the paper.
We have also just recently come across a thesis submitted to the Undergraduate Research Scholars program at Texas A&M University by Kathryn Pattison in 2020 and titled: Daydreamed: A creative representation of maladaptive daydreaming.
A paper published recently by Somer et al. (2021) about “reality shifting”, (RS), a newly discovered form of intense purposeful daydreaming, drew the attention of both a dissociative disorder blogger and a journalist.
Business Insider, an American high-traffic financial and business news website operating several international editions also published a story on RS, mentioning this study. Click here to read it.
The New York Post has also discovered MD and has just published a story by Jane Ridely titled “What happens when ‘maladaptive daydreaming’ takes over your life”. If the link does not work, click here for the PDF of the article.
The French language journal Cerveau & Psycho (Brain and Mind) featured a story on maladaptive daydreaming titled: Rêverie compulsive : les accros à l’imaginaire (Maladaptive daydreaming: addicted to imagination). Click here for the PDF.
And finally, two parts of Jayne Bigelsen’s 3-part interview with Eli Somer on the history and nature of maladaptive daydreaming were uploaded to YouTube. Click to watch Part 1 on how maladaptive daydreaming is becoming a recognized as psychological phenomenon and, here for Part 2 that focus mainly on recent research, & MD treatment routes.
Enjoy!