Conclusion and research agenda
Routledge eBooks April 17, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9780429474026-10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that drug dreams are a phenomenon typical and exclusive to drug-addicted patients, arise from deprivation of an important urge, and are motivationally determined, serving a function such as "discharging" drug craving pressure. The authors contend these dreams have clinical and therapeutic implications for addiction rather than for general dream research and theory. |
Abstract
The study of drug dreams has shown important implications for both the clinics and therapy of addiction rather than for general dream research and theory. Drug dreams are a phenomenon typical and exclusive of drug-addicted patients who, typically, show a craving for drugs. Drug dreams are a typical example of dreams that arise as a result of the deprivation of an important urge of the individual. Their goal is to fulfil or attempt to fulfil the desire to use the drug, and they reproduce a situation similar to the one that is had with the dreams that arise as a the result of biological drive frustration. The clinics and phenomenology of drug dreams clearly show that these dreams are motivationally determined and that they serve a motivational function, such as that of "discharging" the drug craving pressure. The chapter also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.