Inter-relationship of hallucinations and dreams in spontaneously hallucinating patients

Summary

Inter-relationship of hallucinations and dreams, the psychological function of dreaming and hallucinating, and their possible equivalence are considered in terms of psychoanalytic theory. Seven patients from the wards of a large city psychiatric hospital were interviewed in order to elicit their experience of hallucinations contrasted with their dream experience. Five had spontaneous auditory and visual hallucinations; one somaesthetic; in one the hallucinations were amphetamine-induced. All hallucinators recalled dreams with varying degrees of vividness. Four reported being awakened by their hallucinations as exteroceptive stimuli. Only one, the chronic amphetamine abuser, indicated that his hallucinations had entered his dreams: He had paranoid dreams akin to a continuation of an amphetamine trip.

Hallucinators maintain distinction between their dreams and hallucinations, but do not definitely differentiate the latter from their normal perceptions. Although hallucinations may interrupt sleep and wake the dreamer, dreams are not pervaded by hallucinations. The possibility that dreams may partake of the hallucinatory content requires further investigation. Hallucinogenic drugs may potentiate penetration of dreams by waking-state hallucinations as part of the day residue.