[The dimension of the body and its significance in the catathymic picture perception. Suggestions for its therapeutic use with hypochondriasis as an example].

After a short presentation of the waking dream therapy of the guided affective imagery (GAI) and various theoretical comments, it is postulated according to both of Freud's reality conceptions, that also the dimensions of the bodily experience, as it expresses itself in the course of a therapy with GAI, must be split into two conceptions from psychic body reality and material body reality. Based on the therapy minutes of a serious hypochondriac an illustration of both body reality conceptions is given. In conclusion, based on eight finished therapies of hypochondriacs, it was described how hypochondriac patients describe and experience their bodies in GAI. From this it is then evident that hypochondriacs can be helped with the aid of GAI thus going against the general opinion.