Abstract
Dreaming serves an integrative and adaptive function and represents a multifunctional process with memory consolidation, stress regulation, affective processing, problem solving, maintaining physiological and psychological health as well as preserving a function of wish fulfilment. Posttraumatic states are characterised by intrusive phenomena among which dreams with material referring to or reminding of the original traumatising experiences are frequent. It is hypothesised that traumatic dreams try to deal with day residues of strong uncontained emotions that reflect inner representations of traumatising experiences. This article discusses results from a sleep laboratory study of traumatic dreams of survivors from the Balkan wars using two qualitative methods. A group with manifest PTSD is compared with a group without manifest PTSD. Both had traumatising experiences. The first group showed failing dream work, the latter showed signs of traumatising experiences that was modified by dream work. Traumatic dreams showed dream work processes similar to non-traumatic dreams but with various levels of integration. Results are discussed in relation to psychoanalytic theories on dreaming and trauma.
| Original language | German |
|---|---|
| Journal | Psyche |
| Volume | 66 |
| Pages (from-to) | 937-967 |
| ISSN | 0033-2623 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2012 |