However, research by Dr Soffer-Dudek of the Psychology and Consciousness Laboratory in the department of psychology at BGU has now shed new light on the hallmarks of MD. MD is a condition in which the patient indulges in highly detailed and realistic daytime dreams that can last for hours at the expense of normal activity.
However, Soffer-Dudek is one of the leading experts on the condition and is hoping to add MD to the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM VI), by promoting rigorous research on the subject, and he challenged current thinking about MD and hoped to move the condition out of the realm of myths into the field of formal psychological research in patients. .
“Some people who are addicted to their daydreams have great difficulty concentrating and focusing their attention on academic and professional tasks, but they find that their ADHD diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan does not necessarily help them. Formally classifying MD as a mental disorder will allow psychologists to better support their many patients.“Dr Soffer-Dudek said.
PhD candidate, Ms. Nitzan Theodor-Katz, along with Dr. Soffer-Dudek and their colleagues from the University of Haifa, evaluated 83 adults diagnosed with ADHD for symptoms of inattention, MD, depression, loneliness and self-esteem. Of the patients evaluated, approximately 20% met the suggested diagnostic criteria for MD, with significantly higher rates of depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem compared with those patients. ADHD does not meet the criteria for MD.
Soffer-Dudek also said, “Our findings suggest that there is a subgroup of people with an ADHD diagnosis that would benefit more from an MD diagnosis.“
Professor Eli Somer and Dr Rinatya Maaravi Hesseg of the University of Haifa also contributed to this study.
Source: Medindia
