Study Links Nightmares, Hallucinations to Onset of Autoimmune Diseases like Lupus: Research Findings and Implications for Early Detection and Treatment

A new research study conducted by an international team has shed light on the connection between nightmares, hallucinations, and the onset of autoimmune diseases like lupus. This study, led by researchers from the University of Cambridge and King's College London, suggests that mental health and neurological symptoms such as depression, hallucinations, and disrupted dream sleep could be early indicators of a potential flare-up in autoimmune diseases. The researchers surveyed 676 individuals with lupus and 400 clinicians, as well as conducting interviews with 69 patients suffering from systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including lupus, and 50 clinicians.

The results, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, highlighted that disrupted dream sleep was a common symptom experienced by three out of five patients, with one-third of them developing lupus within a year. Additionally, nearly a quarter of the patients reported experiencing hallucinations, which were prevalent in 85% of those with lupus. Furthermore, the study revealed that before experiencing hallucinations, many lupus patients reported increasingly disrupted dream sleep, often characterized by vivid and distressing nightmares involving themes like being attacked, trapped, crushed, or falling.

Lead author Melanie from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing these mental health and neurological symptoms as potential warning signs of autoimmune diseases. Overall, this research highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of the links between mental health, neurological symptoms, and autoimmune diseases like lupus. By recognizing these early warning signs, patients and healthcare providers can take proactive steps to manage and treat these conditions effectively.