The analysand dreams of his analyst - An empirical study about dreams, countertransference dreams and dreams about the psychoanalytic session

The production of dreams about transference and the psychoanalytical session has often been linked with treatment related deficiencies or countertransference related difficulties. Starting from a theoretical discussion concerning possible aspects of meaning in dreams dealing with transference and psychoanalytic sessions we proceed to an empirical study of 1910 dreams investigating the extent of not only treatment related difficulties but also difficulties regarding the setting of the psychoanalytic treatment (for example the cancellation of sessions) symbolized in the production of dreams about the psychoanalytic session. In addition we also investigate the influence of gender and frequency of psychoanalytic sessions on the production of dreams about the psychoanalytic session. As we can show empirically the production of dreams about the psychoanalytic session is correlated with irritations of the setting in a highly significant way. The interpretation of the results is based on the reflection of the meaning of the setting for the psychoanalytic process. We conclude that irritations of the setting lead to the production of dreams about the psycho-analytic session if the problem with the setting is unconsciously amalgamated with an infantile conflict pattern of the analysand (such as separation and dependence conflict). Finally we illustrate in a qualitative view to which extend the development of the psycho-analytic process is reflected in the changing process of the content of the dreams about the psychoanalytic session.