Diagnostic possibilities of dream analysis: theoretical background and methodological approaches

Abstract

Introduction. Violation of some cognitive functions and general mental state after massive treatment makes it difficult to use generally accepted survey methods for the diagnosis of neurological and psychological status during rehabilitation. In this regard, the analysis of dreams seems to be an actual method, which, according to modern research, makes it possible to identify violations of the psychological and somatic state of patients at the early stages and make a forecast about their recovery. Theoretical justification. The possibility of using dream analysis as a diagnostic method is based on modern ideas about the neurophysiological and mental mechanisms of dreaming. Different author notes changes in dream activity while neurological, mental and somatic diseases. More and more researchers agree that dreams can be harbingers, a kind of «signal system» of emerging somatic, neurological and mental disorders. Clinical and diagnostic analysis of dreams in neurotic disorders revealed their features both in different variants of neuroses and at all stages of the disease – from compensation to decompensation. The existence of a relationship between dream images and a predisposition to anxiety, depression and asthenia has been established. Discussion. Existing scientific research suggests the possibility of using dream analysis as an early diagnosis of neurotic conditions and somatic pathologies, the clinical symptoms of which have not yet manifested themselves symptomatically but already appear in dreams. The article provides a literature review on modern concepts of neurophysiological and mental mechanisms of dreams and the possibilities of using the results of their analysis as a diagnostic model are indicated.

Keywords

• сновидческая активность
• психическая активность
• диагностика
• невротические состояния
• соматические заболевания
• висцеральная теория сна
• быстрый сон