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.
Highlights
Dreaming is still a mysterious phenomenon and its definition remains controversial and the subject of epistemological debate [1]
Quantitative dream studies should systematically control variables which are known to influence some aspects of dreaming, so as to verify that groups of various dreamers are matched in group-matching designs and to ensure that the results obtained in pre, post, and follow-up design studies are due to experimental variables and not to confounding variables
Rather our objective is to provide a list of the main variables that are currently well-known to influence dream and nightmare recall frequency, and which, would be necessary to monitor or control in clinical studies investigating dreams
Summary
Dreaming is still a mysterious phenomenon and its definition remains controversial and the subject of epistemological debate [1]. Quantitative dream studies should systematically control variables which are known to influence some aspects of dreaming, so as to verify that groups of various dreamers are matched in group-matching designs and to ensure that the results obtained in pre-, post-, and follow-up design studies are due to experimental variables (e.g., patients treated for nightmares vs patients on the waiting list) and not to confounding variables. Studies testing treatments for nightmares usually compare dream/nightmare report frequency (DRF and NRF) measured at different time points (before and after exposure to the treatment, e.g., imagery rescripting therapy, prazosin) in one group of patients and possibly in one control group (e.g., patients from the waiting-list or exposed to a placebo). As far as possible, factors influencing DRF should
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