Perception of sleep and dreams in alcohol-dependent patients during detoxication and abstinence

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to investigate sleep quality and the subjective dream experience in alcohol-dependent patients during withdrawal and abstinence compared with healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with alcohol dependency and 35 healthy control subjects were asked to fill in several questionnaires and to give information about their subjective sleep and dream experiences. Twelve patients participated in a follow-up interview 4 weeks later. Results: Sleep quality is impaired in alcohol-dependent patients during detoxication, and the subjective dream experience is more negatively toned compared with healthy controls. Both sleep quality and dream experience improves slightly after 4 weeks of abstinence. Patients with alcohol dependency during withdrawal and abstinence dream significantly more often about alcohol. However, none of the abstinent alcohol-dependent patients dreamt about alcohol during withdrawal. Conclusions: This study shows that the subjective sleep and dream quality is strongly impaired in patients with alcohol dependency. Differences in the dream experience between alcohol-dependent patients and healthy controls are in accordance with the continuity hypotheses of dreaming. The hypothesis of dreaming about alcohol as a compensatory effect, however, could not be confirmed. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved.