What Is Known About Maladaptive Daydreaming? A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health

Background:

• Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a coping mechanism characterized by excessive, uncontrollable daydreaming.
• MD leads to significant life impairment and often co-occurs with psychopathological disorders, sharing traits like compulsion and emotional dysregulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review to clarify the definition of MD.
• To elucidate the underlying psychological mechanisms of MD.
• To characterize the existing body of published research on MD.

Main Methods:

• Searched major databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science) and secondary sources for MD empirical studies until March 2024.
• Included 89 studies (87 published, 2 unpublished) after abstract and full-text screening by two independent reviewers.
• Extracted data on study characteristics, methodologies, populations, and findings.

Main Results:

• MD research shows an increasing trend since 2002 with growing geographical diversity.
• Most studies utilized online, cross-sectional data, focusing on younger female participants, prevalence, psychological correlates, and comorbidity.
• Research included general, student, and clinical populations, with a notable number of case studies and studies on mixed clinical groups.

Conclusions:

• The review highlights diverse methodologies in MD research, particularly in clinical settings.
• Future research should prioritize heterogeneous clinical samples to explore variations in MD.
• Longitudinal designs and treatment effectiveness studies are crucial for informing policy and developing resources for mental health professionals.