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Stuck in a lockdown: Dreams, bad dreams, nightmares, and their relationship to stress, depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Solomonova, Elizaveta; Picard-Deland, Claudia; Rapoport, Iris L; Pennestri, Marie-Hélène; Saad, Mysa; Kendzerska, Tetyana; Veissiere, Samuel Paul Louis; Godbout, Roger; Edwards, Jodi D; Quilty, Lena; Robillard, Rebecca.
  • Solomonova E; Neurophilosophy Lab, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  • Picard-Deland C; Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Culture, Mind and Brain research group, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  • Rapoport IL; Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Montreal, Canada.
  • Pennestri MH; Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
  • Saad M; Department of Philosophy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  • Kendzerska T; Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  • Veissiere SPL; Sleep Laboratory and Clinic, Hôpital en Santé Mentale Rivière-des-Prairies, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
  • Godbout R; The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Canada.
  • Edwards JD; Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
  • Quilty L; Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Culture, Mind and Brain research group, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  • Robillard R; Sleep Laboratory and Clinic, Hôpital en Santé Mentale Rivière-des-Prairies, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
PLoS One ; 16(11): e0259040, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1533417
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

An upsurge in dream and nightmare frequency has been noted since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and research shows increases in levels of stress, depression and anxiety during this time. Growing evidence suggests that dream content has a bi-directional relationship with psychopathology, and that dreams react to new, personally significant and emotional experiences. The first lockdown experience was an acute event, characterized by a combination of several unprecedent factors (new pandemic, threat of disease, global uncertainty, the experience of social isolation and exposure to stressful information) that resulted in a large-scale disruption of life routines. This study aimed at investigating changes in dream, bad dream and nightmare recall; most prevalent dream themes; and the relationship between dreams, bad dreams, nightmares and symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety during the first COVID-19 lockdown (April-May 2020) through a national online survey.

METHODS:

968 participants completed an online survey. Dream themes were measured using the Typical Dreams Questionnaire; stress levels were measured by the Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale; symptoms of anxiety were assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale; and symptoms of depression were assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.

RESULTS:

34% (328) of participants reported increased dream recall during the lockdown. The most common dream themes were centered around the topics of 1) inefficacy (e.g., trying again and again, arriving late), 2) human threat (e.g., being chased, attacked); 3) death; and 4) pandemic imagery (e.g., being separated from loved ones, being sick). Dream, bad dream and nightmare frequency was highest in individuals with moderate to severe stress levels. Frequency of bad dreams, nightmares, and dreams about the pandemic, inefficacy, and death were associated with higher levels of stress, as well as with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results support theories of dream formation, environmental susceptibility and stress reactivity. Dream content during the lockdown broadly reflected existential concerns and was associated with increased symptoms of mental health indices.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Anxiety / Mental Recall / Quarantine / Mental Health / Depression / Dreams / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0259040

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Anxiety / Mental Recall / Quarantine / Mental Health / Depression / Dreams / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0259040