Dream of absent-minded transgression: An empirical study of a cognitive withdrawal symptom.

Among 293 smokers abstinent for between 1 and 4 wks, 33% reported having at least 1 dream about smoking. In most dreams, Ss caught themselves smoking and felt strong negative emotions, such as panic and guilt. Dreams about smoking were the result of tobacco withdrawal, as 97% of Ss did not have them while smoking, and their occurrence was significantly related to the duration of abstinence. They were rated as more vivid than the usual dreams and were as common as most major tobacco withdrawal symptoms. In Ss abstinent for 1 yr, 63% recalled having dreams about smoking. They had on average 5 of them, and about a quarter occurred after the 6th mo of abstinence. Having dreams about smoking was prospectively positively related to maintenance of abstinence. An explanation of this finding based on the association of smoking in dreams with aversive emotions is offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)