Dream Content Corresponds With Dreamer’s Psychological Problems and Personality Structure and With Improvement in Psychotherapy: A Typology of Dream Patterns in Dream Series of Patients in Analytical Psychotherapy

An analysis of 202 dreams from 15 patients in analytical psychotherapy using Structural Dream Analysis identified five major dream patterns. Most dream series were dominated by one or two repetitive patterns linked to the dreamers' psychological problems. Typical changes in these patterns corresponded with therapeutic progress. The findings support Jung's theory that dreams provide a holistic image of the psyche, including unconscious aspects. Implications for psychoanalytic theories of dreaming and the continuity hypothesis are discussed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This qualitative study of patients’ dreams in analytical psychotherapy using the method of Structural Dream Analysis investigated 15 cases and 202 dreams. In total, 5 major dream patterns were identified and that accounted for the majority of the dreams. The clients’ dream series were dominated by 1 or 2 repetitive patterns, which were closely connected to the psychological problems of the dreamers. In addition, typical changes in the dream series’ patterns could be identified that corresponded with therapeutic change. These findings support Jung’s theory of dreams as providing a holistic image of the dreamer’s psyche including unconscious aspects. The implications for different psychoanalytic theories of dreaming and dream interpretation are discussed as well as implications for the continuity hypothesis.