Methodological Recommendations to Control for Factors Influencing Dream and Nightmare Recall in Clinical and Experimental Studies of Dreaming.
Benjamin Putois, Wendy Leslie, Claire Asfeld, Caroline Sierro, Susan Higgins, Perrine Ruby
Frontiers in Neurology 2020 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00724 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Dream report frequency Experimental control Methodology |
| Key findings | Controlling demographic, psychological, pathological, and substance-use factors is essential for valid dream and nightmare research. |
Abstract
In order to ensure robust relationships between the dependent and independent variables in clinical dream/nightmare studies, the major factors which influence the frequency of reported dreams must be controlled. This article sets out methodological recommendations to both researchers seeking to ensure the equivalence of experimental groups of participants in group-matching designs, and to clinicians who wish to check that any change in frequency of reported nightmares over the course of a psychological or a pharmacological intervention is not caused by factors other than the experimental treatment itself. The main factors influencing the frequency of dream recall are presented: demographic variables, psychological characteristics, pathological dimensions, and substance consumption. A series of questionnaires is proposed for easily measuring these control variables.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| Sleep and dreaming are for important matters | 2013 | Review | |
| Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis | 2020 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors | 1996 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Associations Between Both Adaptive and Maladaptive Personality Constructs and Emotional Load and Content of Adult Dreams Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine March 25, 2024
- Poor dream recall associates with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and dementia risk Alzheimer S and Dementia Diagnosis Assessment and Disease Monitoring March 30, 2026
- Dreaming in patients with epilepsy: a cross-sectional cohort study. Journal of Sleep Research October 1, 2025
- The eveningness chronotype is associated with nightmare distress and dream recall: a cross-sectional study. Sleep and biological rhythms July 1, 2023
- High dream recall frequency is associated with an increase of both bottom-up and top-down attentional processes. Cerebral Cortex August 22, 2022
and 3 more in the library
Cites 48
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- Prevalence and Correlates of Frequent Nightmares: A Community-Based 2-Phase Study Sleep June 1, 2010
- Questionnaires and diaries as research instruments in dream research: Methodological issues. Dreaming March 1, 2002
- Factors of home dream recall: a structural equation model Journal of Sleep Research May 12, 2003
- Lucid Dreaming in Narcolepsy Sleep February 27, 2015
and 43 more in the library