Maladaptive daydreaming, also calledexcessive daydreaming, is when an individual experiences excessivedaydreaming that interferes with daily life. It is a diagnosis proposed byEli Somer for a disordered form of dissociativeabsorption, associated with excessivefantasy that is not recognized by any major medical or psychological criteria. Maladaptive daydreaming can result indistress, can replace human interaction and may interfere with normal functioning such associal life or work.[1]
The term was coined in 2002 byEli Somer of theUniversity of Haifa.[2] Somer's definition of the proposed condition is "extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning."[2] There has been limited research outside of Somer's.[2]
Daydreaming, a form of normaldissociation associated withabsorption, is a highly prevalent mental activity experienced by almost everyone.[3][unreliable medical source?] Some individuals reportedly possess the ability to daydream so vividly that they experience a sense of presence in the imagined environment.[2] This experience is reported to be extremely rewarding to the extent that some of those who experience it develop a compulsion to repeat it that it has been described as anaddiction.[1][4][5]Somer has proposed "stimuli" for maladaptive daydreams that may relate to specific locations. The main proposed symptom is extremely vivid fantasies with "story-like features", such as the daydream's characters, plots and settings.[6]
Somer has argued that maladaptive daydreaming is not a form ofpsychosis, as people with maladaptive daydreaming can tell that their fantasies are not real, while those withpsychotic disorders have difficulty separating hallucinations or delusions from reality.[6]
There is no consensus among psychologists as to the causes of maladaptive daydreaming, although some experts believe it may be a coping mechanism. Teenagers and young adults, particularly those with childhood trauma or abuse, more frequently report having the condition than adults do. Individuals with the condition sometimes share traits with other behavioral addictions, such as gambling or video games, and may use their daydreams as a means to escape reality.[1][7][8]
While maladaptive daydreaming is not a recognized psychiatric disorder, it has spawned online support groups since Somer first reported the proposed disorder in 2002.[9][10] Although there are no specific treatments recommended for maladaptive daydreaming,Harvard Medical School suggests individuals with the condition may find treating other mental health conditions to be effective.[8]
Maladaptive daydreaming is currently studied by a consortium of researchers (The International Consortium for Maladaptive Daydreaming Research or ICMDR) from diverse countries including the United States, Poland, Switzerland, Israel, Greece and Italy.[11][5][12][13]
Interested researchers are continuously added to the Consortium to foster collaborations in this small field of research. The ICMDR's website features all scientific studies on MD in the "publications" section.[14]
There are no official ways to diagnose maladaptive daydreaming in patients because it has not yet been recognized in any official diagnostic manual for psychiatry, such as theDSM-5-TR. However, some methods have been developed in attempt to gauge the proposed mental disorder's prevalence.[6]
In 2015, a 14-item self-report measurement, known as the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale or MDS-16 was designed to identify abnormalities in the daydreaming of individuals. The purpose of designing this instrument was to provide a reliable and valid measurement of the existence of the proposed condition in patients and to garner attention to the potential existence of maladaptive daydreaming as a mental disorder.[6][8]
Later, an additional two items were added, assessing the use of music in fostering daydreaming. The MDS-16 has been used in several countries such as the United States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy and Israel.[15][16]
Maladaptive daydreaming has been identified to potentially havecomorbidity with a number of already existing recognized mental disorders such asattention deficit hyperactivity disorder,anxiety disorder,major depressive disorder, andobsessive–compulsive disorder.[17] In one case study, a patient believed to have the condition was administeredfluvoxamine, a medication typically used to treat those with OCD. The patient found she was better able to control the frequency of her daydreaming episodes.[18]
James Thurber's storyThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty, written in 1939, showcases the main character, Walter, as he experiences maladaptive daydreaming while working in an office and regularly imagines himself in heroic situations. The character is also related to that of having afantasy-prone personality.[19] The story has been adapted twice into film, in1947 byNorman Z. McLeod[20] and again in2013 byBen Stiller.[21]
Reality shifting is apseudoscientific trend that appears to be a form of excessive daydreaming, which emerged as aninternet phenomenon onTikTok around 2020. Professionals often describe it as a maladaptive coping mechanism because its primary goal is to provide an elaborate escape from the individual's "current reality."[22]
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