The cathartic dream: Using a large language model to study a new type of functional dream in healthy and clinical populations
Journal of Sleep Research February 9, 2025 Lampros Perogamvros, Vincent Rochas, Jean‐Baptiste Beau et al. 5 citations
Dreams may help regulate emotions by reducing negative feelings. A new concept, the cathartic dream, is defined as a dream with a dynamic plot and emotional twists where negative emotions are expressed and ultimately decreased, reflecting psychological relief akin to Aristotelian catharsis. Using a large language model to categorize dream diaries, researchers detected cathartic dreams in both healthy individuals and patients with nightmares. Their prevalence increased during two weeks of imagery rehearsal therapy and targeted memory reactivation during REM sleep. The increase in cathartic dreams correlated with decreased depression scores in nightmare patients, suggesting a functional role in well-being.