Dream Recall Frequency and Sleep in Patients with Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder

OBJECTIVES: The dream recall and sleep of patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) were not sufficiently studied. We hypothesized that RBD patients have frequent dream recall with poor sleep quality, and investigated the relationship between the dream recall frequency and sleep quality in RBD patients compared to controls. METHODS: We analyzed 81 drug naïve patients [RBD (+), 64.6±8.3 y, 57 males] and 81 age and gender matched patients with sleep disturbances without RBD [RBD (−), 63.7±7.3 y, 57 males]. All completed Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), insomnia severity index (ISI), Epworth sleepiness scale and Beck depression inventory. The 5-point rating scale was used to categorize dream recall frequency of most recent month (0=never, 4=very frequent). RESULTS: In RBD (+), dream recall frequency was much higher [frequent dreaming, 77.2% vs. 35.4%], and subjective sleep quality was much better [PSQI, 6.36±3.26 vs. 8.71±4.69]. Insomnia severity was much less in RBD (+) (ISI, 9.13±5.86) than RBD (−) (12.43±7.62). No significant differences were found in sleep parameters except lower N2 sleep % in RBD (+). The relationship between dream recall frequency and sleep was not significant in RBD (+), yet, a positive correlation was noted in RBD (−). CONCLUSIONS: RBD (+) had better sleep quality despite higher frequency of dream recall compared to RBD (−). Also dream recall was not related to their sleep quality in RBD (+), which suggests that RBD patients may have different sleep perception about their sleep and sleep quality.

Diferencias individuales en la frecuencia del recuerdo de sueños exóticos / Individual differences in exotic dreams recall

El objetivo de este estudio es, por una parte, determinar las características de personalidad entre individuos que recuerdan sueños y, por otra, comparar las puntuaciones obtenidas en la alteración dormital, el neuroticismo y la extroversión, y los indicadores de propensión a la esquizotipia en individuos que no recuerdan sueños. Para este fin, se examinó la frecuencia del recuerdo del sueño con contenido extraño, inusual, y anómalo-paranormal.Vale la pena resaltar que pocos estudios han explorado las diferencias individuales en relación con tales sueños. En este estudio se reagrupó una muestra de 231 individuos de ambos sexos que puntuaron su calidad en el recuerdo del sueño entre alta (n = 57) y baja (n = 174). Se emplearon tres instrumentos que miden la etapa dormital y dos que miden el neuroticismo, la extroversión y la esquizotipia. Los sueños exóticos más frecuentes son los auditivos, los lúcidos, los recurrentes, los psíquicos y los asociados al recuerdo de personas fallecidas. Las puntuaciones altas en la alteración del sueño, las experiencias esquizotípicas y las experiencias hipnagógicas e hipnopómpicas caracterizan a los soñadores en comparación con los no soñadores. Este estudio sostiene la idea de que ciertos indicadores de propensión a la esquizotipia están asociados a la frecuencia del recuerdo de sueños exóticos.

This study aimed to assess personality traits amongst individuals who remember dreams, on the one hand, and to compare scores obtained in sleep disorder, neuroticism and extroversion, as well as indicators of proneness to schizotypy in individuals who cannot remember dreams, on the other. To this end, dream recall frequency was assessed as including strange, unusual and anomalous/paranormal content. Notably, few studies have explored individual differences in such dreams. A sample of 231 men and women with high (n=57) and low (n=174) scores on dream recall quality was clustered in this study. Three instruments that measure sleep stage and two which measure neuroticism, extroversion and schizotypy were used. The most common exotic dreams were auditory dreams, lucid dreams, recurring dreams, psychic dreams, and dreams associated with deceased persons. In comparison with non-dreamers, dreamers had higher scores for sleep disorder, schizotypal experiences, and hypnagogic/hypnopompic experiences. This study supports the idea that some indicators of proneness to schizotypy are associated with the frequency of exotic dream recall.

O Sonhar social: uma experiência no Brasil / Social dreaming: an experience in Brazil

A matriz do sonhar social é um dispositivo criado com a finalidade de apreender o significado social dos sonhos. Buscamos avaliar sua aplicação no contexto brasileiro e cogitamos sobre suas potencialidades em processos de intervenção psicológica. Foram realizados encontros de compartilhamento de sonhos com dois grupos: 14 profissionais de gestão de pessoas de uma instituição financeira nacional e seis psicólogos formandos e recém-formados de uma universidade pública federal. Utilizamos a técnica de observação participante e questionários de avaliação de reação, procedendo à avaliação qualitativa das informações. Constatamos a aplicabilidade do dispositivo e formulamos hipótese sobre a utilização da matriz em intervenção psicológica.

The social dreaming matrix is a device created for the purpose of grasping the social meaning of dreams. We tried to evaluate its application in the context of Brazil and theorized about its potential in processes of psychological intervention. Meetings were held to share dreams with two groups: 14 human management professionals of a national financial institution and six trainees and graduates in Psychology of a federal public university. The information gathered with the technique of participant observation and reaction evaluating questionnaires was interpreted using qualitative methods. The applicability of the device was verified and a hypothesis was formulated about the use of the matrix in psychological intervention.

Os sonhos nas diferentes abordagens psicológicas: apontamentos para a prática psicoterápica / Los sueños en los diferentes abordajes psicológicos: notas para la práctica de la psicoterapia / The dreams in different psychological approaches: notes for psychotherapy practice

A análise dos sonhos está presente como tema de interesse desde a Antiguidade, dentro e fora da Psicologia. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar uma revisão integrativa da literatura científica nacional a respeito do tema. Por meio de uma seleção sistemática nas bases LILACS, SciELO e PePSIC, entre 2001 e 2011, foram recuperados oito artigos. Constata-se, de forma geral, a pequena quantidade de estudos destinados especificamente ao tema. Destaca-se neles a concepção defendida por cada abordagem psicológica acerca da causalidade, função e uso do sonho dentro da prática psicoterápica. Discorre-se, posteriormente, sobre semelhanças e diferenças entre as diferentes formas de compreender os sonhos. Evidencia-se a grande divergência em relação aos pressupostos de cada abordagem, não sendo encontrados exercícios no sentido de uma leitura integradora ou problematizadora.

Dream analysis is subject of interest since Antiquity, inside and outside the Psychology field. The aim of this study is to present a national integrative literature review concering the theme. Through a systematic selection in LILACS, SciELO e PePSIC, between 2001 and 2011, eight articles were retrieved. There is, in general, a small number of studies aimed specifically at the subject. Among them, ideas defended by each psychological pratice are presented. They concern causality, function of dreams and dream work in psychotherapeutic practice. In addition, similitudes and differences are discussed in different perspectives of understanding dreams. It has been made evident that the subject is controversial amongst them. Efforts in order to build and integrative or questioning paper were not found.

El análisis de los sueños esta presente como un tema de interés desde la antigüedad, dentro y fuera de la Psicología. El objetivo de este estudio es presentar una revisión integral de la literatura científica nacional al respecto del tema. Por medio de una selección sistemática de las bases de datos LILACS, SciELO y PePSIC, entre 2001 y 2011, fueron recuperados ocho artículos. De manera general se comprueba la pequeña cantidad de estudios destinados específicamente al tema. Se destaca en ellos el concepto defendido en cada abordaje psicológico a cerca de las causalidades, funciones y usos de los sueños dentro de la práctica psicoterapéutica. Se relata posteriormente, las semejanzas y diferencias entre las diferentes formas de comprender los sueños. Es evidente la gran divergencia en relación a los principios de cada abordaje, no siendo encontrados ejercicios referentes a una lectura integradora o problematizada.

Dream Recall Frequency among Patients in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic in Ile-Ife; Nigeria

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out if the frequency of dream recall among neuropsychiatric patients on psychotropic drugs was significantly different from that of healthy individuals. Methods: The study was done on 53 neuropsychiatric patients with different diagnoses who were on medication and 144 healthy individuals. The number of participants in each group who recalled their dreams and those who did not were compared and analyzed statistically for any significant difference. Results: Thirty-five out of the 53 neuropsychiatric patients and 133 out of the 144 healthy individuals were able to recall their dreams. A significantly (p 0.001) higher proportion of the healthy individuals compared to neuropsychiatric patients on medications were able to recall their dreams. Conclusions: This study has shown that neuropsychiatric patients on medications may have reduced dream episodes or that their ability to remember their dreams may be impaired. A combination of both factors is not unlikely. Thus, the patients have reduced dream recall frequency (DRF) compared to healthy subjects. There might also be individuals who do not dream.