Can Mindfulness and Self-monitoring Improve Control Over Maladaptive Daydreaming?

University of Haifa

Status: Completed

Conditions: Psychological Intervention; Intervention Study; Internet-Based Intervention

Treatments: Other: Online therapeutic intervention for maladaptive daydreaming based on mindfulness; Other: Online therapeutic intervention for maladaptive daydreaming based on mindfulness and self-monitoring

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05235243

035/18

Details and patient eligibility

About

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a compulsive form of daydreaming that causes distress and functional impairment among tens of thousands of self-diagnosed sufferers. This is the first controlled treatment trial for MD. The investigators built an internet-based self-help program for MD and tested the effectiveness of mindfulness and self-monitoring in improving control over MD, comparing three groups across three measurement points in time.

Full description

Objective: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a compulsive form of daydreaming that causes distress and functional impairment among tens of thousands of self-diagnosed sufferers. This is the first controlled treatment trial for MD. Method: The investigators built an internet-based self-help program for MD and tested the effectiveness of mindfulness and self-monitoring in improving control over MD, compared to internet-based support as usual (waiting-list group). Participants were randomly assigned to three groups and measured across three points in time (baseline, post-intervention, and 6 months follow-up). The investigators measured the change in daydreaming pathology (MDS-16), daydreaming frequency (DDFS), and daydreaming functioning (DWSAS), alongside changes in psychiatric symptoms (BSI), and intervention outcome (OQ). Changes in mindful attention and awareness skills, compliance with program requirements, and feedback to the program were also measured.

Enrollment: 697 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age above 18 years
• MD diagnosis
• Not being in any concurrent treatment for MD
• English fluent
• Daily access to the internet, and to a device with internet access
• Give informed consent to the study
• Respondents who reported being on a stable dose of medication for at least three months could take part in the study provided that they did not change their dosages while participating in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Age under 18 years
• No MD diagnosis
• In concurrent psychology therapy for MD
• Not fluent in English
• Not having a daily internet access
• Taking medication for less than three months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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697 participants in 3 patient groups

The Full Intervention (FI) group

Experimental group

Description:

The full intervention (FI) group received a psycho-education module about MD and its addictive behavior mechanism, a motivation enhancement module based on motivational interviewing, mindfulness modules, and self-monitoring modules.

Treatment:

Other: Online therapeutic intervention for maladaptive daydreaming based on mindfulness and self-monitoring

The partial intervention (PI) group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The partial intervention (PI) group received an intervention identical to the FI group (a psycho-education module about MD and its addictive behavior mechanism, a motivation enhancement module based on motivational interviewing, mindfulness modules) with the exclusion of the self-monitoring modules.

Treatment:

Other: Online therapeutic intervention for maladaptive daydreaming based on mindfulness

Waiting List (WL) group

No Intervention group

Description:

Waiting List (WL) group did not undergo any intervention during the study period. However, WL participants were told that the program will commence in three months. During their waiting time participants were instructed to reduce their daydreaming activity to the best of their ability. Since all participants were recruited for this study from an online support forum (that is not part of this research design), the investigators labeled WL as the Internet Support as Usual (ISAU) group.