The role of reported dreams in treatment.

摘要

The current research examines the role of dreams as reported by the analyst in a long-term psychoanalytic treatment. By applying empirically validated measures of referential activity, this study investigates the language style, levels of affect, and dominant themes in dream narratives. This research also addresses the proportion of notes devoted to dreams, whether this proportion changed over time, and the ways in which this may inform treatment. Based on these results, two sessions of interest were selected, which were then explored in greater depth clinically and empirically.;As predicted, a distinctive linguistic style, characterized by high referential activity, was evident in dream narratives. Contrary to prediction, the highest levels of specific affect were not found in dream narratives. The highly evocative language style of dream narratives, along with low levels of affect words, suggests that dreams belong to the symbolizing phase of the referential process When the patient or analyst reports a dream, she or he is emotionally engaged in sharing the dream, rather than reflecting on or labeling affect aroused by a dream.;The computerized theme measures identified the dominant themes for this treatment. Sex and Relational themes were identified as major themes for this patient. Sex themes characterized dream narratives, while Relational themes dominated transference and interpretation narratives. While Symptoms themes were the most prevalent in the dream narratives, Ego Functions themes did not characterize any of the segments.;Even though the analyst devoted more notes to discussing dreams and reported more dreams over the course of treatment, he became less emotionally engaged in the material over time. Not only did the analyst speak more frequently about transference as treatment progressed, but he also became more immersed in transference narratives over the course of treatment, as indicated by language measures of referential activity.;Microanalysis of clinically interesting moments showed that dream and transference narratives are inherently interconnected categories, mutually influencing and being influenced by each other. Dreams facilitate development of the transferential relationship by activating clinically significant moments. However, dreams also serve as retrospective commentaries on significant transference-countertransference interactions that have already occurred in sessions.;These results provide empirical support for the special role that dreams play in treatment they facilitate processes of symbolization and emotional connections, and promote development of the transferential relationship that leads to change.