Who is affected?
Description:
How common is maladaptive daydreaming really? This article provides current figures on the prevalence, affected groups and why MD often goes unrecognised.
Related
Daydreaming as a coping strategy: From a helpful mechanism to a problematic habit (20)
Diagnostics: The Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), other tests and further research (6)
Causes of maladaptive daydreaming (4)
Teaser (Lead)
Maladaptive daydreaming sounds like a niche phenomenon - but it's not! Current research shows that MD affects millions of people worldwide. But why does it so often go unrecognised? This article provides precise figures, identifies affected groups and explains why the number of unrecognised cases is so high.
Epidemiology & prevalence: How common is maladaptive daydreaming really?
First, read the detailed main article [Understanding, treating and overcoming maladaptive daydreaming]
or the overview "Maladaptive daydreaming - causes, symptoms and help". This topic article provides concrete figures on the prevalence.
1. The basis: why we only have estimates
Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is not an official diagnosis, which makes it challenging to obtain precise figures on its prevalence. Epidemiological studies[1] often rely on self-assessments and screening instruments, such as the MDS-16. Research to date has primarily relied on online surveys and clinical samples, which can lead to distorted results. Nevertheless, the figures are significant enough to recognise MD as a relevant mental health problem.
2 The current study situation: Who is affected and how?
General population:
A 2.5 % prevalence: The most comprehensive study to date (Somer et al., 2016) estimates that approximately 2.5% of the general population is affected.
Extrapolated: That would be over 2 million people in Germany
Global: Over 190 million people could be affected worldwide
Groups particularly affected:
Young adults: 75% of those affected report their first symptoms before the age of 25
Students: Up to 5.5% show clinically relevant MD symptoms
People who have experienced trauma are 40-60% more likely to be affected than the general population
3 MD rarely comes alone: the importance of comorbidities[2]
Maladaptive daydreaming rarely occurs in isolation. The comorbidity rates are enormous:
ADHD: 40-60% of MD sufferers show ADHD symptoms
Anxiety disorders: 50-70% report co-occurring anxiety
Depression: 45-65 % show depressive symptoms
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): 30-50 % overlap
Trauma-related disorders: Up to 80 % with complex PTSD
These high co-morbidity rates explain why MD is often overlooked: The symptoms are attributed to other, more familiar disorders.
4 Age and gender: Are there differences?
Age distribution:
Starting age: Mostly between 8 and 18 years
Peak: 20-35 years (time of finding identity and making life decisions)
Course: chronic, with varying intensity
Gender differences:
Slight overrepresentation: women appear to be slightly more frequently affected (55-60%)
Differences in severity: Men report heroic fantasies more regularly, and women report interpersonal scenarios
Seeking help: women are more likely to seek professional support
5 Why MD often goes unrecognised: The problem of unrecognised cases
Experts assume that the number of unrecognised cases is high. Reasons for this:
Feelings of shame: Those affected are ashamed of their "childish" fantasies
Lack of information: many therapists are unaware of MD
Danger of confusion: MD is often misdiagnosed as ADHD, depression or social anxiety.
Functionality: Initially, MD is adaptive; however, it becomes a problem later on.
6 International perspective: MD is global
Studies from different cultures show:
USA/Europe: 2-3 % prevalence
Asia: slightly lower rates (1.5-2%), possibly due to recording bias[3]
Online communities: large international MD forums with tens of thousands of members
FAQ
How many people have maladaptive daydreaming?
Current estimates place the figure at 2.5% of the general population, which translates to millions of people worldwide.
Is it true that mainly women are affected?
No, both sexes are affected, but women seem to be slightly over-represented (55-60%) and seek help more often.
At what age does MD appear?
Most sufferers report their first symptoms in childhood or adolescence, often between the ages of 8 and 18.
Why is MD so often overlooked?
Because it is not an official diagnosis, many are ashamed, and the symptoms are attributed to other disorders.
Do these figures help me?
Yes, it shows that you are not alone. Millions of people have the same experience—and help is available.
*The figures are based on current studies (2016-2023) and are updated on an ongoing basis. Status: May 2024*.
[1] Epidemiological studies: studies that investigate the spread and causes of health conditions in population groups. In the context of MD, this means: How many people are affected? Who is particularly at risk? Which factors favour the development?
[2] Comorbidity: The simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or disorders in one person. The co-morbidity rate for MD is very high, meaning that it rarely occurs alone, but usually together with other mental illnesses such as ADHD, anxiety disorders or depression.
[3] Reporting bias: A distortion of study results that occurs when certain results (e.g. positive or expected findings) are more likely to be reported or published than others. In a cultural context, this means that MD is reported less frequently in some regions, for example due to stigmatisation or culturally different perceptions of symptoms.