Lucid dreams can end nightmares and prevent their recurrence, but they can also induce harrowing dysphoric dreams. The realization of dreaming (lucidity) and dreams with high control were both associated with positive experiences. Negative outcomes primarily result from failed induction attempts or lucid dreams with low dream control; successfully inducing high-control lucid dreams poses low risk for negative outcomes. A process model describes the progression from lucid dream induction to waking benefit, identifying potential areas of concern. The findings provide new insights into possible negative repercussions and how to avoid them in future applications.
A mindfulness-based sleep program for pregnant women with insomnia appears to work by reducing nighttime cognitive arousal and the effort invested in trying to sleep. In a small trial of 12 pregnant women with insomnia disorder, 75% reported high cognitive arousal before treatment, dropping to 8.3% after treatment. All women whose insomnia remitted had low cognitive arousal afterward, while half of non-remitters still had high arousal. Lower cognitive arousal and less sleep effort predicted same-week improvements in insomnia and later reductions in depression. The findings suggest that quieting a racing mind and decreasing sleep effort are key mechanisms through which mindfulness-based insomnia therapy alleviates both insomnia and depression during pregnancy.