Premium
Degree of somatoform and psychological dissociation in dissociative disorder is correlated with reported trauma
Author(s) -
Nijenhuis Ellert R. S.,
Spinhoven Philip,
van Dyck Richard,
van der Hart Onno,
Vanderlinden Johan
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1024493332751
Subject(s) - dissociative , dissociative disorders , psychology , dissociation (chemistry) , psychological trauma , dissociative identity disorder , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder , emotional trauma , psychiatry , psychotherapist , anxiety , chemistry
In this study, the prevalence and severity of traumatic experiences as reported by patients with dissociative disorders and with other DSM‐IV psychiatric diagnoses were compared. Furthermore, the predictive value of emotional, physical, and sexual trauma with respect to somatoform and psychological dissociation was analyzed. In contrast with comparison patients, dissociative disorder patients reported severe and multifaceted traumatization. Physical and sexual trauma predicted somatoform dissociation, sexual trauma predicted psychological dissociation as well. According to the memories of the dissociative disorder patients, this abuse occurred in an emotionally neglectful and abusive social context. Pathological dissociation was best predicted by early onset of reported intense, chronic and multiple traumatization. Methodological limitations restricting causal inferences between reported trauma and dissociation are discussed.