Prevailing mood, mood changes and dreams in bipolar disorder.
In this preliminary and exploratory study, we collected the dream reports and mood ratings of 6 outpatients with bipolar disorder over a 6-month period to compare the relationship between dream themes and mood states. We found that neutral mood states were associated with mundane, routine or uneventful dreams while manic states featured bizarre and improbable dream themes. Neither depressed nor mixed states showed a consistent trend in dream themes. By categorizing the dreams that preceded mood shifts, we were able to identify a particular type of dream that seemed to precede a mood shift, particularly in the direction of mania. Shifts to mania were heralded by dreams of death and bodily injury. Forthcoming depression was more clearly associated with a decrease in overall number of dreams reported. The significance of dreaming in relation to mood is discussed in terms of these preliminary findings and our bipolar dream scale is offered for the convenience of subsequent investigators.
Beauchemin
K M
KM
University of Alberta, Department of Psychiatry, Edmonton, Canada.
Hays
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001143:Arousal; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004325:Dreams; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment