In his study of the relation between fantasy and bodily illness, carried out on general hospital patients where he attempted to obtain fantasy material 'at sleep and waking levels of awareness', Cappon compared material from nineteen patients who died in the course of the illness with that from another eighty-eight patients. His data suggest that no personality change took place in the period of dying, the ego defenses were usually overwhelmed, and the experience of dreaming ceased or went unreported. The majority of patients wanted to die or, at least, not to live. Their forebodings, often numerous, depending on the state of awareness, tended to increase with the preconscious perception of body dysfunctions occurring in dreams. Cappon applies these suggestions to what the physician may tell the dying about themselves and their condition.