[Dreams and schizophrenia: a qualitative analysis]

The dreams of a group of 16 patients diagnosed to have schizophrenic disturbance according to DSM III and those of 16 individuals chosen from the general population using the standardised Sheppard and Saul method, have been examined. The results showed that schizophrenic patients present a weaker ego in their dreams. However, a single dream may not be typical of either group and a distinction is only possible on the basis of a series of dreams. Further differences were identified between the dreams of patients diagnosed as having paranoid type schizophrenic disturbance and those with undifferentiated schizophrenia.