Dreams as an aid in determining diagnosis, prognosis, and attitude towards treatment

The are certain types of dreams, in both psychosomatic and general medical patients, that address themselves directly - in undisguised form - to illness. From a collection of 60 such dreams, examples are presented which illustrate the objective value dreams can have in determining diagnosis, prognosis, and patient's attitude towards treatment. These dreams bring to light crucial factors that could affect treatment, such as the unconscious need for symptoms, the purposive function of symptoms, and unconscious resistances to treatment. Dreams may also reveal an unconscious knowledge of impending death in terminal patients. Although it is usually the patient who has dreams relevant to an existing illness, family members or the physician or therapist may also have them. This study makes a link with ancient Greek medical tradition in which dreams had a central role in both diagnosis and treatment. The possibility of revitalizing this tradition is noted, and the need for systematic research into dreams associated with illness is emphasized.