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The present article is aimed to discuss the construct of maladaptive daydreaming (MD), by examining its characteristics and its differences with common fantasies and with other psychopathological conditions. The MD can be defined as a disorder characterized by a widespread use of the imagination that compromise the individual's functioning. From a phenomenological and psychopathological perspective, MD shares several common features of other disorders that are currently conceptualized within the spectrum of behavioral addictions. It is characterized by obsessive, impulsive, compulsive and dissociative dynamics, including the use of rituals, such as listening to music and kinesthetic activity, which serve to increase the degree of absorption toward one's own internal world. MD has high levels of comorbidity with other disorders, which can lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. In fact, the dynamics underlying this disorder can generate symptoms belonging to different psychopathological conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive disorders, and dissociative disorders. Therefore, the clinician should be aware of the clinical elements that are useful for differentiating MD from other disorders, and should know the measures used to assess and quantify the symptoms of MD, in order to effectively treat the individuals who suffer from this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]