Reports of mind-wandering, dreams and daydreams may offer clues about mental health, new research reported by Medical Xpress suggests.

Scientists are analysing these reports for patterns that could flag psychological distress earlier.

Researchers say the content of wandering thoughts matters more than how often the mind wanders.

Persistent negative daydreaming, dominated by worry and rumination, is linked to depression and anxiety.

Researchers are using structured prompts and computational analysis instead of simple questionnaires.

Distressing dreams and nightmares have long been linked to post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

Such reports could be collected with a smartphone in minutes, but privacy and cultural differences are concerns.

Read the full article for more details on mind-wandering and mental health.