Carlotta Med

2 papers in the library · 3 citations · publishing 2025

Papers

The association between dream activity and alexithymia during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study in a sample of pregnant women.

Journal of Sleep Research August 1, 2025 Marta Spinoni, Serena Scarpelli, Ilaria Di Pasquale Benedetti et al. 2 citations

Pregnant women often experience heightened dream recall, which can serve as a mechanism for emotional regulation. In a study of 118 women in their first trimester, increased depressive symptoms correlated with more frequent nightmares and distress from those dreams. Notably, higher levels of alexithymia—difficulty identifying emotions—predicted greater nightmare frequency and distress. Additionally, unplanned pregnancies were linked to increased nightmare distress. These findings suggest that addressing emotional regulation could be crucial for supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy.

DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14423 Full text Depression Dreaming Alexithymia Pregnancy

Dreams and Nightmares in Early Pregnancy: A Comparative Study with a Control Group.

Nature and Science of Sleep January 1, 2025 Serena Scarpelli, Marta Spinoni, Maurizio Gorgoni et al. 1 citation

Pregnant women in their first trimester experience fewer nightmares than non-pregnant counterparts, with 100 participants in each group revealing significant differences. While only 23% of pregnant women reported frequent nightmares, this contrasts sharply with 43% in the control group. Additionally, those with depressive symptoms and greater dream engagement were more likely to have nightmares. The findings suggest that hormonal changes during gestation may reduce oneiric activity, supporting the continuity hypothesis that links depression with nightmare frequency.

DOI: 10.2147/NSS.S520737 Full text Depression Continuity hypothesis First trimester Gestation +2