[Are oppressive dreams indicators in bereavement?].

Objectives: It is widely believed that oppressive dreams are frequent in bereavement--despite the lack of scientific investigations of the subject. The aims of our study were the analysis of dream quality as well as the correlates of oppressive dreams in bereavement.

Method: Participants with (N = 473) and without bereavement were compared upon the database of a national representative study (Hungarostudy Epidemiological Panel Survey 2006, N = 4329). Dream contents were assessed with the Dream Quality Questionnaire (DQQ). Depressive symptoms (BDI-S) and the presence anxiety were also investigated.

Results: Oppressive dreams occurred significantly higher frequency in the first year of bereavement (men: F = 17.525, p < 0.001, women: F = 8.291, p = 0.004). Oppressive dreams were significantly associated with anxiety (F = 37.089, p < 0.001) and with depressive symptoms (F = 50.562, p < 0.001).

Discussion: Oppressive dreams are significantly more frequent in the first year of bereavement, and may act as indicators of bereavement-linked mental health consequences like depression and anxiety. These are often masked by the symptoms of grief and therefore remain untreated. Our preliminary results could be a starting point for the development of further research aiming to clarify the relationship amongst dream contents, anxiety, and depression in bereavement.