ABSTRACT

It is surprising that, after Sigmund Freud, dreams received relatively little attention in psychoanalytic literature, in terms of either the theory of dream formation or the role of dreams in psychoanalytic treatment. There were, of course, dreams used in many clinical illustrations, but it remained for modern sleep research1 to bring a resurgence of interest in the dream. The discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has not as yet led to evidence that would confirm any one of several theories of dream formation or the salience of the dream. Perhaps it is because so many analysts have been active in sleep and dream research that REM sleep research renewed contemporary interest in the dream. For Charles Brenner the dream is to be considered as one more association of the patient; showing increased interest in the dream or any other aspect of the patient's functioning would for Brenner be a technical mistake.