[Are oppressive dreams indicators in bereavement?].
OBJECTIVE
It is widely believed that oppressive dreams are frequent in bereavement--despite the lack of scientific investigations of the subject. The aims of our study were the analysis of dream quality as well as the correlates of oppressive dreams in bereavement.


METHODS
Participants with (N = 473) and without bereavement were compared upon the database of a national representative study (Hungarostudy Epidemiological Panel Survey 2006, N = 4329). Dream contents were assessed with the Dream Quality Questionnaire (DQQ). Depressive symptoms (BDI-S) and the presence anxiety were also investigated.


RESULTS
Oppressive dreams occurred significantly higher frequency in the first year of bereavement (men: F = 17.525, p < 0.001, women: F = 8.291, p = 0.004). Oppressive dreams were significantly associated with anxiety (F = 37.089, p < 0.001) and with depressive symptoms (F = 50.562, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Oppressive dreams are significantly more frequent in the first year of bereavement, and may act as indicators of bereavement-linked mental health consequences like depression and anxiety. These are often masked by the symptoms of grief and therefore remain untreated. Our preliminary results could be a starting point for the development of further research aiming to clarify the relationship amongst dream contents, anxiety, and depression in bereavement.
Semmelweis Egyetem, Magatartástudományi Intézet, 1089 Budapest, Nagyvárad tér 4. purgyor@net.sote.hu
György
G
Purebl
János
J
Pilling
Thege Barna
TB
Konkolÿ
Róbert
R
Bódizs
Mária
M
Kopp
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001601:Bereavement; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004325:Dreams / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires