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‘MALADAPTIVE DAYDREAMING’: An introduction to a new condition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

C. Thorburn
C. Thorburn*
Affiliation:
Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, United Kingdom

Abstract

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Introduction

Daydreaming is a normal, very common experience in childhood and adulthood. However, a new phenomenon – termed ‘Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD)’ – which takes daydreaming to an extreme form, is currently being investigated. Maladaptive Daydreaming is not listed as an official disorder in the ICD-10 or DSM-5 presently.

Objectives

I aimed to review current literature on MD and explore whether there is a possibility for MD to eventually be acknowledged and classified as a real psychiatric disorder.

Methods

I gathered information via academic papers found through reliable sites, such as, Ovid, PubMed and Cochrane, and through articles, videos and online forums to gather patients’ perspectives.

Results

My research intimated that there is enough information and literature available to create specific criteria to qualify a diagnosis of MD in patients. Possible aetiologies of Maladaptive Daydreaming have been identified. There has also been exploration into treatment options.

Conclusions

Overall, I believe there is sufficient evidence for Maladaptive Daydreaming to be classified as an official disorder. Being included in the ICD-10 and DSM-5 would motivate research, expand identification of this disorder in patients, and advance access to help and support for patients.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S951
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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