Maladaptive Daydreaming: Unmasking an Absorptive Daydreaming Disorder

January 17, 2025

Abstract
This 90-minute webinar offers a comprehensive exploration of maladaptive daydreaming (MD), a newly proposed mental health condition characterized by excessive, vivid fantasy activity that impairs daily functioning. The presentation begins with a detailed history of the construct's development and emergence, tracing its evolution in psychological research. A critical comparison between MD and mind wandering follows, highlighting the distinct features of each phenomenon to address common blurring of the terms in the literature. Unlike MD, mind wandering is a normal, often helpful mental process that occurs when attention shifts away from the task at hand. It’s transient and typically doesn’t interfere with daily life. The webinar delves into the unique phenomenological aspects of MD and will describe the roles of movement and music to induce and deepen the immersive experience of MD. The webinar will present data on MD prevalence and comorbidity with other mental health disorders, particularly ADHD, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive spectrum symptoms. The presentation will also describe the association of MD with autism spectrum disorder and childhood trauma. Attendees will gain insight into the conceptualization of MD as a dissociative disorder, emphasizing the role of dissociative absorption in its manifestation. The presentation will extend to childhood antecedents of MD, exploring potential developmental factors that contribute to its onset and its possible periatric presentation as a stereotypical movement disorder and other tic and movement disorders often presented at pediatric neurology clinics. Furthermore, the lecture addresses the risks associated with MD, including the potential for errors in memory source attribution and the creation of memory confabulations. Evidence will shown that many individuals with maladaptive daydreaming reported experiencing childhood trauma and that 51 % noted their traumatic experiences are reflected as themes in their daydreaming. However, participants often described more positive versions of their childhood in their daydreams. While most participants could distinguish between daydream content and actual traumatic memories, most false memories aimed to rectify an adverse past event or anticipate an unwelcome future. The fictitious stories are about plausible or desired experiences. Memory inaccuracies in MD may help with distress regulation. This comprehensive overview of MD aims to provide mental health professionals and researchers with a deeper understanding of this absorptive daydreaming disorder, its implications, and its place within the broader spectrum of psychological phenomena.

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Beginning/Introductory

Learning Objectives

Upon Completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Contrast maladaptive daydreaming (MD) from mind wandering by identifying at least three distinct features of MD
  • Explain the conceptualization of MD as a dissociative disorder
  • Evaluate the risks associated with MD, particularly regarding memory processes
  • Identify the developmental factors and childhood antecedents of MD
  • Describe the current understanding of MD's place within the spectrum of psychological phenomena, integrating knowledge of its history, clinical presentation, and implications for mental health practice
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
09/20/2024
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
01/17/2025 - 12:00pm EST
Event ends: 
01/17/2025 - 1:30pm EST
ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Rating: 
0

Presenter: Professor Eli Somer, PhD
Presenter Bio: Eli Somer, a clinical psychologist, is also a full clinical professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Haifa School of Social Work. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, and his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Haifa (1975, 1980). His doctoral degree is in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida (1985). Somer is the founder of Trauma and Dissociation Israel (TDIL), co-founder, and past president of both the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD) and the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) and co-founder of the International Society for Maladaptive Daydreaming (ISMD). Somer is also the founder and a senior researcher at the International Consortium of Maladaptive Daydreaming Research. He received the Cornelia Wilbur Award from ISSTD in 2000 for his outstanding clinical contributions to the treatment of dissociative disorders and was granted ISSTD's Fellow status in 2001 for his exceptional contributions to the field of dissociative disorders. In 2014, Somer was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from ISSTD. In 2024, Eli received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Israeli Society for Sexual Trauma Treatment & Prevention (ISTT) for his outstanding contributions to the field in his country. He has been treating trauma survivors for over 40 years, first as a Mental Health Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, and later as a civilian clinician for survivors of terrorism and prolonged childhood trauma. He has published over 200 scientific publications in this field. In 2002, Somer identified a phenomenon of excessive absorptive daydreaming and coined its name: maladaptive daydreaming (MD). Since then, over 70 scientific publications on MD have been released. Currently, Somer is the founder and a senior researcher at the International Consortium of Maladaptive Daydreaming Research.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
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"Your Price" above reflects your final price based on your membership status and career level. 

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code.

Registration Policies

Cancellations prior to the webinar are subject to a $10 cancellation fee. No refunds are provided for no shows. The deadline for cancellations with a refund is January 13, 2025 at 5:00pm US Eastern Time. Requests for cancellation should be sent to [email protected].

For additional webinar policies including completion requirements, filing grievances, requesting a disability accommodation, and awarding of certificates of credits, please visit our Webinar Policies page.