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The Inner Worlds Unveiled – ICMDR Summer Newsletter

  • ICMDR team
  • Aug 16
  • 10 min read

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Dear Colleagues and Friends of the ICMDR,


The field of maladaptive daydreaming (MD) research has never been more vibrant or diverse. This edition of the International Consortium for Maladaptive Daydreaming Research (ICMDR) Newsletter showcases an extraordinary wave of scholarship, spanning continents, disciplines and publication venues. This edition highlights work appearing in regional journals and leading international outlets, reflecting a maturing research field that is both deeply rooted and globally recognized.

         What is especially exciting is the range of voices shaping this conversation. Experienced researchers continue to deepen our understanding of MD’s psychological and clinical dimensions, while a new generation of graduate students and early-career scholars are bringing fresh perspectives and bold ideas. Together, their contributions illuminate MD from every angle, examining its ties to ADHD and OCD, its impact on emotional regulation, its role in creativity, and its meaning in lived experience.

         But MD research isn’t confined to the pages of academic journals. In this edition, we extend the spotlight to the screen. DW (Deutsche Welle) has released My Dark Beautiful World, a superbly crafted documentary by Thomas Renckens that brings the voices of people with MD to the global stage. The film is now freely available on DW’s YouTube channel, making it a rare and invaluable resource for researchers, clinicians and anyone curious about the phenomenon.

         As you read this issue, we invite you to celebrate the flourishing of MD scholarship and to witness how academic rigor, personal stories and creative media are coming together to build awareness and understanding. The growing body of work featured here illustrates not only how far the field has come, but also how much promise lies ahead.


Warmly,

The ICMDR Editorial Team


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Published research papers


Abstract:

This study explores what happens when people with maladaptive daydreaming (MD) share their experiences with others. People with MD often feel lonely and isolated because they keep their daydreaming a secret, thereby limiting their opportunities to get support. Researchers interviewed ten people with MD to understand their experiences of telling family, friends and therapists about their condition. Three main themes emerged:

1.The secret lives of daydreamers: participants often hid their daydreaming from others.

2.Peeling back another layer of yourself: sharing their condition felt like revealing a deep, hidden part of themselves.

3.Longing to be understood: participants yearned for others to understand and validate their experiences.

However, disclosures often led to mixed reactions, leaving participants feeling misunderstood or invalidated. The researchers emphasize the importance of therapists approaching MD with empathy and openness, and without judgment. They recommend that therapy should focus on the individual’s unique experience. This study highlights the need for better awareness and understanding of MD.

Abstract:

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) has been linked with other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. These three conditions often occur together, making it difficult to understand which one influences people’s level of MD the most. The authors recruited 294 adults and statistically examined how traits typical of OCD, ADHD and autism contribute to MD, while accounting for the overlap between these conditions. They found that ADHD traits were the most strongly linked to people’s level of MD, and there was a weaker association between OCD traits and MD. In contrast, autistic traits did not predict the level of MD. ADHD traits associated with both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were related to people’s level of MD. For OCD, only traits related to obsessing and neutralizing were associated with MD. This study provides new insights into MD and highlights potential characteristics that may contribute to this behaviour.

Abstract:

Researchers looked at all the studies that have been done on maladaptive daydreaming (MD) up to March 2024 to better understand what MD is, how it works psychologically, and how scientists have been studying it. They included 89 relevant studies, most of which were published in scientific journals, with a few still unpublished. Research on MD has been growing steadily since 2002. Most studies have collected information through online surveys, mainly from young women, and have focused on how common MD is, what mental-health problems it’s linked to, and what emotional difficulties people with MD face. Out of the 89 studies, 23 looked at people with mental-health diagnoses, while the rest focused on students or members of the public who experience MD. Some studies were clinical case reports, while others compared MD across different groups. This review shows that researchers have used a variety of methods, but there’s still a lot to learn, especially about how MD works in different types of patients and how best to treat it. Future research should include a wider range of participants, long-term studies, and the testing of treatments to help people who struggle with MD.

Abstract:

This study explored personality traits and brain-related systems involved in maladaptive daydreaming (MD). The researchers surveyed 242 individuals who were identified as probably experiencing MD based on a standard questionnaire. Participants answered questions about their emotional tendencies, personality traits and mental-health history. The findings showed that people with MD were more emotionally sensitive (higher neuroticism) and less likely to be self-disciplined or open to new experiences. They also tended to be highly motivated by rewarding experiences and more prone to cautious or avoidant behaviour. No clear connection was found between MD and other diagnosed mental-health conditions. The results suggest that MD is linked to emotional regulation difficulties, avoidance and a strong drive for pleasurable experiences.

Abstract:

Suicide continues to be a serious concern among young adults, and understanding the psychological factors that contribute to it is essential for prevention. This study explored how certain personality traits and patterns of thinking might help explain why some people are more at risk than others. In particular, it looked at the role of attachment styles (how individuals relate to others emotionally), alongside traits such as emotional instability (neuroticism) and a tendency toward maladaptive daydreaming (MD). The researchers found that people with a secure attachment style were generally at lower risk of suicidal thoughts, but this could change if they were also highly neurotic. Those with a dismissing style didn’t show strong connections to suicide risk or the other factors studied. In contrast, individuals with a preoccupied attachment style were more at risk, and this link was entirely explained by their emotional instability and frequent escape into daydreaming. For those with a fearful attachment style, neuroticism and MD also played a role, although they were not the whole story. These results suggest that targeting emotional instability and MD could be important in reducing suicide risk, particularly for people with insecure attachment patterns. The study emphasizes the value of personalized approaches in mental-health care: different people may need different kinds of support depending on how they relate to others and how they manage their inner worlds.

Abstract:

This case report explores how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults can sometimes be confused with a range of mental-health conditions because of overlapping symptoms. A 19-year-old woman, who had a difficult childhood and spent a lot of time alone, reported hearing dozens of imaginary voices. She described them as kind and supportive friends, with whom she talked, imagined touching, and even saw in her mind. These experiences helped her cope with loneliness and stress. Doctors at first considered epilepsy or psychosis, but brain scans and tests ruled those out. Eventually, using standard diagnostic tools, she was diagnosed with ADHD. When she started taking methylphenidate, her ability to focus improved, and the imaginary voices disappeared. While this was a sign of progress, it also caused her distress, since she had relied on these voices for comfort and identity for many years. The doctors concluded that her voices were not signs of psychosis, but part of an intense inner world created by inattention, emotional overwhelm and an overactive imagination, all of which are common in ADHD. This case shows how symptoms such as zoning out, vivid daydreaming, and feeling disconnected from reality can be part of ADHD, and highlights the importance of careful diagnosis.

Abstract:

This case report describes a young Indian girl who spent many hours each day lost in vivid, imaginary stories. Over time, this excessive daydreaming started to interfere with her school work, relationships and daily activities. She also experienced obsessive thoughts and worries, similar to those seen in OCD. The case report explains how her mental-health issues were connected and discusses the importance of recognizing maladaptive daydreaming as a distinct problem that needs specific attention. With proper treatment, her symptoms improved significantly, highlighting the value of early diagnosis and targeted care in such cases.

Abstract:

This study examined the connection between unhealthy daydreaming habits, mental-health struggles and self-centred behaviour in teenagers by studying 271 students aged 13-17 from Chennai, India, who filled out questionnaires measuring how much they daydream in ways that interfere with daily life, their levels of stress and depression, and how narcissistic they are. The researchers found that teenagers who daydream excessively tend to have more mental-health problems and more self-centred attitudes than teens with normal daydreaming habits. All three issues seem to go hand-in-hand, with mental-health problems and narcissistic traits predicting whether a teenager will develop problematic daydreaming habits. Excessive daydreaming might work in two ways for teenagers: both serving as a way to cope with stress and problems, and making their mental health and self-centred behaviour worse over time. Therapists and counsellors working with teens should pay attention to all these issues together rather than treating them separately.

Abstract:

This paper delves into the phenomenological understanding of the psychopathology of imagination by drawing insights from two influential figures within the phenomenological tradition. It examines Sartre’s explicit contemplations on imagination in light of Merleau-Ponty’s ontological concept of perceptual faith. These perspectives intersect on a crucial aspect of the psychopathology of imagination: its emergence from an inherent discomfort with uncertainty. The gradual erosion of our pre-reflective perceptual faith disrupts the typically serene state of the nonpathological mind. Imagination, in response, may emerge as a means to restore certainty. However, in the context of pathological tendencies towards certainty, the imaginary may shed its ‘as-if’ function and overthrow the intersubjective meaning-context, leading individuals into a state of quasi-solipsism.


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Conference presentation


Abstract:

This research proposal suggests examining whether people who suffer from maladaptive daydreaming (MD) might be unconsciously replaying traumatic experiences from previous generations in their fantasies. The concept of "postmemory" refers to traumatic memories and experiences being transmitted from parents, grandparents or earlier ancestors to younger family members who did not directly live through the events. The research plan involves interviewing people diagnosed with MD and using surveys to explore whether their daydreams contain elements related to inherited family trauma, and comparing the findings with people who don't have MD. The researchers expect to find that individuals with MD carry more inherited family trauma and incorporate ancestral experiences into their daydreams more than those without MD. This might suggest that MD is a way of processing unresolved family trauma passed down through generations, potentially leading to more effective treatments that address inherited trauma rather than directly targeting daydreaming symptoms.


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Maladaptive daydreaming on television


DW (Deutsche Welle) is Germany’s international public broadcaster. It produces news, documentaries and cultural programmes in over 30 languages. DW is often compared to the BBC World Service or France 24, and is funded by the German government but editorially independent. In July, DW broadcast My Dark Beautiful World, a full-length documentary about maladaptive daydreaming by Thomas Renkens. The film will be available on DW’s YouTube channel for the next six months. Since it became available online, 3 weeks ago, the film has been viewed over 200,000 times.


Maladaptive daydreaming on the internet


TechBullion is a global online news platform focused on financial technology (fintech) and emerging technologies. Based in London, it covers topics such as financial tech and banking innovation, cryptocurrency, AI, startup and investment news, and tech gadgets and business analysis. TechBullion recently featured a story on maladaptive daydreaming titled: “I Was Five People Before Breakfast: Living with Maladaptive Daydreaming and the Music of the Mind”.


PsyPost is an independent online news site, active since 2010, that reports the latest findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and social science. It provides digestible, up-to-date science news on human behaviour and the brain. It is especially suited to readers who are curious about how psychological research applies to daily life. Recently, PsyPost featured a story by Vladimir Hedrih titled: “Narcissistic individuals are more prone to maladaptive daydreaming”.


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Afterword


As this issue draws to a close, we find ourselves standing at an exciting crossroads for maladaptive daydreaming (MD) research. What was once a scarcely recognized phenomenon is now a field of study spanning psychiatry, psychology, philosophy and beyond. These pages have included contributions from veteran scholars refining the foundations of our knowledge, and from passionate graduate students daring to push into uncharted territory. Together, their work reflects not only scientific curiosity but also a deep commitment to understanding the lived realities of those navigating the challenges and gifts of an intense inner world.

         The progress we witness is more than just academic. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when diverse voices join to illuminate a shared mystery. As this body of knowledge grows, so too does our collective ability to bring awareness, compassion, and meaningful support to those whose lives are shaped by MD.

         As we move into summer, may you find moments of stillness amid the season’s warmth. May your own daydreams, when they come, bring inspiration rather than burden, and may this time offer you rest, renewal and quiet joy.


Wishing you a peaceful and restorative summer,

The ICMDR Editorial Team

The International Consortium for Maladaptive Daydreaming Research (ICMDR)

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The ICMDR is a platform for scientific cooperation and a depository of information on immersive and dysfunctional forms of daydreaming. Established in 2017, comprises researchers at various stages of their careers, from different parts of the world.

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