The authors used sleep laboratory data to predict responses to
psychiatric treatment. The predictions were based on the assumptions that
REM latency reflects the need for dreaming and therefore the need for
adaptation and that REM time reflects the capacity for the adaptive work
associated with REM sleep. Dream recall and dream content were considered
indicators of psychological mindedness and the patient's current conflicts.
With this material, statistically significant predictions of such outcomes
as good response to psychotherapy, elopement, or need for medication were
made. The results of this study support the hypothesis that REM sleep is
involved in adaptation.
Abstract Teaser