Dreaming as a physiological psychosis

Periodicity, hallucinatory phenomena and lack of awareness of one’s detachment from reality seem to connect the subjective experience of dreaming to that of psychosis. Both can be considered fully conscious states of the brain/mind, with an immediate influence of non-conscious elements caused by an impaired interaction with the external world. Psychological and pharmacological induction of lucidity in dreams may prove useful in the comprehension of acute psychoses and in clinical practice.

Published online: 28 October 2010
https://doi.org/10.1075/aicr.79.29dag