An observatory on changes in dreaming during a pandemic: a living systematic review (part 1).
Journal of Sleep Research June 1, 2023 Giorgia Margherita, Alessia Caffieri
During the COVID-19 pandemic, dreaming became more intense, with changes in dream recall and nightmare frequency, and the emergence of 'pandemic dreams'. A living systematic review of 71 eligible papers published up to February 2022 found that lockdowns were associated with heightened oneiric activity, alterations in the dreaming-waking-life continuum, and a role for dreaming as an emotional regulator. These findings suggest that monitoring changes in dreaming can provide important information about psychological health and may contribute to understanding the effects of collective trauma on sleep and dreaming.