Characterizing Veterans' Dreams Applying the Zurich Dream Process Coding System

To contribute to the characterization of nightmares in trauma survivors, the Zurich Dream Process Coding System was used to analyze reports of recurrent nightmares from 27 German soldiers with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress or adjustment disorder who had been admitted to a trauma-related treatment program. Applying a previously developed set of 8 markers of affect regulation during dreaming, a consistent picture of central features emerged. The majority of dream reports were characterized by an abrupt overwhelming beginning, passivity of the dream ego, absence of or failing of trials to leave this passive position by means of interactions or locomotion, absence of or failing of metacognitions and metarelations, as well as a sudden ending and resulting on-off-character of the dreams. These findings are interpreted as indicative of a specific dysfunction in the affect regulation of individuals suffering from trauma-related psychopathology.