A preliminary study of the personality of the nightmare sufferer: relationship to schizophrenia and creativity?

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Abstract
Through psychiatric interviews and psychological tests, 38 human adults were studied who reported experiencing at least 1 nighmare per week. Nearly all of the subjects had a lifelong history of frequent nightmares. Four subjects met DSM-III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III) criteria for schizophrenia, 9 met the criteria for borderline personality and 6 met the criteria for schizotypal personality. The others had no specific diagnosis and none of the subjects had a diagnosis of typical neurosis. Many had mentally ill relatives. Most had artistic interests and talents. These nightmare sufferers may be seen as unusually vulnerable, with a potential for mental illness, especially schizophrenia, and a potential for artistic achievement.

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