WAS ANNA-O. BLACK SNAKE HALLUCINATION A SLEEP PARALYSIS NIGHTMARE - DREAMS, MEMORIES, AND TRAUMA

THE FINAL traumatic event recalled by Anna O. during her treatment wit h Josef Breuer was a terrifying hallucination she once had of a black snake attacking her ailing father. This event has been variously inter preted as indicating an underlying psychodynamic conflict, as a tempor al lobe seizure, and as an hypnotic confabulation. We argue, however, that the hallucination-during which Anna O.'s arm was reportedly ''asl eep'' due to nerve blockage-was probably a sleep paralysis nightmare. Sleep paralysis nightmares continue to be overlooked or misdiagnosed i n clinical practice, and, in recent years, have been implicated in the controversy surrounding memories of trauma and sexual abuse.