Dream intensity and motifs experienced by psychiatric patients

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the dream experiences of psychiatric patients and nonclinical individuals by utilizing the Dream Intensity Scale and the Dream Motif Scale—Short Form, while taking into account trait emotions and the use of psychotropic medications. The sample consisted of 127 community psychiatric participants recruited through mental health organizations in Hong Kong and 164 mentally healthy participants recruited through convenience sampling. Both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric participants were requested to complete the Dream Intensity Scale, Dream Motif Scale—Short Form, and a brief version of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales. The findings unveiled that psychiatric patients, in general, and depressed patients, specifically, exhibit an overall heightened dream intensity, with their dreams featuring greater concerns pertaining to ego integrity and persecution. Furthermore, in comparison to healthy individuals, individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate a higher prevalence of lucid dreaming and autosuggestive dream episodes, albeit with relatively indistinct sensory imagery during the dreaming state. The findings of this study shed light on the intricacies involved in comprehending the dream experiences of psychiatric patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)