DREAM-RECALL AND MAJOR DEPRESSION - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Free-recall dream reports were collected from 82 outpatients with nonpsychotic major depression at baseline and following treatment with antidepressants. Dream recall rates were extremely low in depressed patients (<20%). Of the initial sample, only 21 patients recalled dreams at any phase of study. All subsequent analyses were based on the reduced sample (n = 21). Twenty-seven dreams were recalled from 135 nights by patients when symptomatic and medication free (baseline). A total of 32 dreams were collected over 174 nights on which 80% of patients were improved or remitted on antidepressant medications. Compared to baseline, antidepressant treatment was associated with a significantly lower dream recall rate. Exceptions were 4/13 patients treated with fluoxetine (Prozac(TM)) who showed an increase in dream recall. Despite clinical response to antidepressants, dream content was very similar to the baseline, symptomatic, depressed state. Only a few content categories showed a significant change from baseline. The emotional content of dreams was unaffected by depressed state. These data suggest that both recall and dream content are significantly altered by antidepressant medication. Moreover, gender differences are evident in dream content, but not along dimensions of failure and negative events as previously suggested. It is possible that the lack of change in the emotional tone of dreams in treatment responders may reflect a continuing vulnerability to depression.