Maladaptive daydreaming may be a better diagnosis for some than ADHD,
study finds
Date:
April 12, 2022
Source:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Summary:
Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) may be a better diagnosis for some
people than ADHD, according to a new study. MD is a condition
whereby people slip into involved highly detailed and realistic
daydreams that can last hours at the cost of normal functioning.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) may be a better diagnosis for some people
than ADHD, according to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev researchers, in collaboration with the University of Haifa. MD is a condition whereby people slip into involved highly detailed and realistic daydreams that can last hours at the cost of normal functioning. It
has not yet been recognized as a formal psychiatric syndrome. However,
Dr. Nirit Soffer-Dudek of the Consciousness and Psychopathology Laboratory
in the Department of Psychology at BGU is one of the foremost experts
on the condition and is hoping to get MD added to the next edition of
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM VI),
by promoting rigorous research on the subject.
========================================================================== "Some individuals who become addicted to their fanciful daydreams
experience great difficulty in concentrating and focusing their
attention on academic and vocational tasks, yet they find that an
ADHD diagnosis and the subsequent treatment plan does not necessarily
help them. Formally classifying MD as a mental disorder would enable psychological practitioners to better assist many of their patients,"
says Dr. Soffer-Dudek.
Previous studies had found high levels of ADHD in those also presenting
with MD, thereby raising the question of whether MD was separate from
ADHD. In the current study, published recently in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, doctoral candidate Ms. Nitzan Theodor-Katz, together with
Dr. Soffer-Dudek and their colleagues from the University of Haifa,
assessed 83 adults diagnosed with ADHD for inattention symptoms, MD, depression, loneliness, and self- esteem. Of those, about 20% met the
proposed diagnostic criteria for MD, with significantly higher rates of depression, loneliness, and lowered self-esteem, compared to those with
ADHD that did not meet criteria for MD.
"Our findings suggest that there is a subgroup of those diagnosed
with ADHD who would benefit more from a diagnosis of MD," says
Dr. Soffer-Dudek.
Additional researchers include Prof. Eli Somer and Dr. Rinatya Maaravi
Hesseg of the University of Haifa.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Ben-Gurion_University_of_the_Negev. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nitzan Theodor‐Katz, Eli Somer, Rinatya M. Hesseg, Nirit
Soffer‐Dudek. Could immersive daydreaming underlie a
deficit in attention? The prevalence and characteristics
of maladaptive daydreaming in individuals with
attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2022; DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23355 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220412141107.htm
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