An Investigation on the Nature of Epic Dreaming — Is It Nightmare or Vivid Dream

Abstract

Epic dreaming is a type of disturbed dreaming described as experiencing daytime fatigue after dreaming all night. To investigate whether such phenomena is simply a vivid dream or more of a disturbing nightmare, we are going to look at the physiological and psychological aspect of epic dreaming patients along the behaviors of nightmares. By comparison, we see a similarity of inclination towards objectively lighter and inefficient sleep but difference in REM sleep proportion. Additionally, neither kind of disturbed dreams are objectively affected by psychopathological influences, while both patients score relatively higher in neuroticism and openness than normal dreamers. From these common qualities, epic dreaming might not be just normal vivid dreaming but is rooted from the combination of insufficient sleep quality and subjective dream anxiety just as nightmares are. Based on these factors, future research could focus on the quantification of the subjective dream quality and subjective dream perception to explore better solution for disturbance afflicted by epic dreaming.