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Memory (Hove, England) Jan 2017
Topics: Deja Vu; Dissociative Disorders; Humans; Memory
PubMed: 27905254
DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2017.1244881 -
European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2023Recent studies found that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms are common in people with depressive symptoms. Although a trauma-related subtype of depression has...
BACKGROUND
Recent studies found that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms are common in people with depressive symptoms. Although a trauma-related subtype of depression has been proposed, little is known about the persistence and clinical consequences of these symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
This one-year follow-up study investigated the persistence and clinical consequences of post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms in people with depressive symptoms.
METHODS
We analyzed longitudinal data from an international sample of people self-reporting depressive emotions ( = 152) (mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score = 17.27; SD = 6.31).
RESULTS
More than half (58.4%) of participants with baseline post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still met the criteria for PTSD after one year. Participants with dissociative symptoms at baseline were significantly more likely to report lifetime psychiatric hospitalization (31.2% vs 14.7%), past-year use of psychiatric hospitalization (10.4% vs 0%) and emergency services (16.9% vs 4%) than those without dissociative symptoms. All post-traumatic and dissociative symptom clusters were cross-sectionally ( = .286 to .528, < .001) and longitudinally ( = .181 to .462, < .001) correlated with depressive symptoms. A sense of current threat ( = .146, < .05) and negative self-concept ( = .173, < .05) at baseline significantly predicted depressive symptoms after one year.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings contribute to the increasing body of knowledge regarding the PTSD/dissociation-depression comorbidity. Given their persistence and clinical consequences, we recommend that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms be regularly screened for in clinical settings. The existence of a possible trauma-related subtype of depression should receive more attention in both research and clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Follow-Up Studies; Depression; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Comorbidity; Dissociative Disorders
PubMed: 37818716
DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2263314 -
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the... 2016In this study, the psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) were tested in a sample of Italian adults, and a nomological network of...
In this study, the psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) were tested in a sample of Italian adults, and a nomological network of dissociative functioning based on current psychodynamic research was examined. A total of 794 participants (55% females) ranging in age from 18 to 64 completed the DES-II and other measures of theory of mind, alexithymia, attachment style, and empathy. The Italian translation of the DES-II showed high internal consistency, adequate item-to-scale homogeneity, and good split-half reliability. A single-factor solution including the 8 items of pathological dissociation (DES-T) adequately fit the data. Participants who reported higher levels of dissociative experiences showed significantly lower scores on theory of mind and empathy than other participants. They also showed significantly higher scores on alexithymia, preoccupied attachment, and fearful attachment. Results of the study support the view that people who suffer from severe dissociative experiences may also have difficulties mentalizing and regulating affects and that they may feel uncomfortable in close relationships because they have a negative view of the self. This can inform clinical work with dissociative individuals, who could benefit from therapies that consider their potential problems with mentalization, empathy, affect regulation, and attachment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Dissociative Disorders; Female; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics
PubMed: 26507547
DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2015.1108948 -
European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2023Dysfunctional cognitions play a central role in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However the role of specific dissociation-related beliefs about...
OBJECTIVE
Dysfunctional cognitions play a central role in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However the role of specific dissociation-related beliefs about memory has not been previously investigated. This study aimed to investigate the role of dissociation-related beliefs about memory in trauma-focused treatment. It was hypothesized that patients with the dissociative subtype of PTSD would show higher levels of dissociation-related beliefs, dissociation-related beliefs about memory would decrease after trauma-focused treatment, and higher pre-treatment dissociation-related beliefs would be associated with fewer changes in PTSD symptoms.
METHOD
Post-traumatic symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and dissociation-related beliefs about memory were assessed in a sample of patients diagnosed with PTSD (= 111) or the dissociative subtype of PTSD ( = 61). They underwent intensive trauma-focused treatment consisting of four or eight consecutive treatment days. On each treatment day, patients received 90 min of individual prolonged exposure (PE) in the morning and 90 min of individual eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in the afternoon. The relationship between dissociation-related beliefs about memory and the effects of trauma-focused treatment was investigated.
RESULTS
Dissociation-related beliefs about memory were significantly associated with PTSD and its dissociative symptoms. In addition, consistent with our hypothesis, patients with the dissociative subtype of PTSD scored significantly higher on dissociation-related beliefs about memory pre-treatment than those without the dissociative subtype. Additionally, the severity of these beliefs decreased significantly after trauma-related treatment. Contrary to our hypothesis, elevated dissociation-related beliefs did not negatively influence treatment outcome.
CONCLUSION
The results of the current study suggest that dissociation-related beliefs do not influence the outcome of trauma-focused treatment, and that trauma-focused treatment does not need to be altered specifically for patients experiencing more dissociation-related beliefs about memory because these beliefs decrease in association with treatment.
Topics: Humans; Dissociative Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Treatment Outcome; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
PubMed: 37846662
DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2265182 -
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors :... May 2021Multilevel consequences related to gambling disorder (GD) are glaring enough to make gambling a worldwide public health issue. Dissociation has been pointed out in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Multilevel consequences related to gambling disorder (GD) are glaring enough to make gambling a worldwide public health issue. Dissociation has been pointed out in clinical, empirical, and theoretical contributions as a key variable accounting for the development and maintenance of GD. However, we still lack a systematization of available empirical data that may facilitate further accurate conclusions.
METHOD
A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed with the goal to answer to open questions. We followed the PRISMA guidelines conducting a systematic search of 5 scientific databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed) including grey literature.
RESULTS
A total of 843 records were screened, and 20 studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses. A systematic review of selected studies outlines the high heterogeneity in the operationalization of the dissociation construct as well as the absence of studies examining the role played by the specific dimensions of the pathological dissociative feature in GD. A significant, positive, and moderate effect size (r = .37) was found linking GD to dissociation. Moreover, this effect appears to not be moderated by the quality of studies, age, and gender of participants nor measures used to evaluate dissociation.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite empirical evidences supporting the theoretical assertions toward the relationship between GD and dissociation, few studies have reached an articulated understanding of this topic, mostly failing to identify specific dissociative features involved in GD. Furthermore, the existence of the current gap in the literature are discussed to delineate future lines of research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Dissociative Disorders; Gambling; Humans
PubMed: 33646797
DOI: 10.1037/adb0000693 -
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the... 2020In the field of trauma and dissociation, culture has a significant influence on the clinical presentation of patients. A growing body of literature addresses the...
In the field of trauma and dissociation, culture has a significant influence on the clinical presentation of patients. A growing body of literature addresses the relationship between culture and dissociation. Studies of this relationship though, evoke the important, but at the same time extremely sensitive issue of cross-cultural comparisons. In this editorial, I provide a limited overview of various ways in which cultural influences have been addressed in the field of trauma and dissociation. Most studies have examined the occurrence of dissociative disorders in clinical populations in different cultures and countries. Some have focused on normative dissociation as a response to traumatic events in non-clinical samples from different cultures. This editorial also explores the concepts of double consciousness and black consciousness, which have emerged from the fields of social psychology and black psychology; and how these concepts influence our thinking about non-clinical dissociation. Culture-related challenges in the field of trauma and dissociation create opportunities for training in cultural competence for therapists. Qualitative research methods might be best suited to future research on the relationship between culture, trauma and dissociation. The chances of reaching a thorough and deep understanding of the influence of culture on trauma and dissociation might be best if the entire spectrum of dissociation is studied - from normal to pathological dissociation, and in its different manifestations from universal to those unique to certain cultural groups.
Topics: Cross-Cultural Comparison; Culture; Dissociative Disorders; Humans; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 31891334
DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1675134 -
Fortschritte Der Neurologie-Psychiatrie Nov 2016Alienation, i. e. disorders of the inner experience of integrity, continuity, and agency, represents a feature of both psychotic and non-psychotic disorders. Thereby,... (Review)
Review
Alienation, i. e. disorders of the inner experience of integrity, continuity, and agency, represents a feature of both psychotic and non-psychotic disorders. Thereby, ego disturbances are thought to be specific for schizophrenia. Depersonalisation, in contrast, has been reported in schizophrenia as well as a neurotic, probably distinct syndrome. The differentiation of psychotic vs. non-psychotic alienation is often all but trivial. The present paper provides an overview of the historical roots and the psychopathological conceptualizations of alienation. Clinically relevant features of psychotic alienation are highlighted. Experience of passivity, loss of authenticity and disturbances of striving and volition appear as psychotic characteristics.
Topics: Depersonalization; Diagnosis, Differential; Dissociative Disorders; Ego; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Neurotic Disorders; Psychopathology; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology; Social Alienation
PubMed: 27846655
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-115180 -
Der Nervenarzt Nov 2022The term "complex posttraumatic stress disorder" (cPTSD) appeared in the scientific literature 30 years ago and has now been included in a diagnostic catalogue for the...
The term "complex posttraumatic stress disorder" (cPTSD) appeared in the scientific literature 30 years ago and has now been included in a diagnostic catalogue for the first time, namely in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 11 (ICD-11) which was officially published at the beginning of 2022. This usually severely debilitating disorder often poses great challenges to treating physicians and psychotherapists in everyday clinical practice. Due to the much-debated overlap of cPTSD with borderline personality disorder (BPD), which is very high in cases of comorbidity of BPD and PTSD, cPTSD became embroiled in scientific discussions about the raison d'être of BPD in the new dimensional concept of personality disorders (PD) in the ICD-11. In addition to a detailed explanation of the diagnostic criteria of cPTSD and their differentiation from other mental disorders, particularly from PTSD, BPD and dissociative disorders, this article summarizes the historical development of the concept of cPTSD to date and the currently available treatment options. The same criteria apply to cPTSD in childhood and adolescence as in adulthood, but there are some special features that are not addressed in this article.
Topics: Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Dissociative Disorders; International Classification of Diseases; Borderline Personality Disorder; Comorbidity
PubMed: 36251027
DOI: 10.1007/s00115-022-01400-4 -
Fortschritte Der Neurologie-Psychiatrie Apr 2023Dissociative phenomena are not only encountered in everyday life, but increasingly require neurological as well as psychiatric attention in practice and clinic in order...
Dissociative phenomena are not only encountered in everyday life, but increasingly require neurological as well as psychiatric attention in practice and clinic in order to recognize and diagnose corresponding phenomena at an early stage and to provide patients with appropriate treatment. In this article, dissociative disorders, taking into account the new classification of the ICD-11, are presented and corresponding diagnostics and therapeutic measures are described.
Topics: Humans; Dissociative Disorders; International Classification of Diseases
PubMed: 37055014
DOI: 10.1055/a-1898-5283 -
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the... 2015In the growing research literature on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality (SA), there are many questions still unresolved about the role played by exposure to...
In the growing research literature on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality (SA), there are many questions still unresolved about the role played by exposure to traumatic stressors (including but not limited to childhood maltreatment) and posttraumatic disorders (including dissociative features and disorders). In this special issue of the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, a review article and 4 empirical studies attempt to provide additional insight into the relationship of traumatization and dissociation to NSSI and SA. The review article describes similarities and differences in the relationships that have been empirically documented between trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress or dissociative symptoms with NSSI versus SA and highlights the need for research to identify and test integrative clinical constructs, such as emotion dysregulation, in order to develop systematic risk, assessment, and intervention models. The empirical reports provide illustrative examples of conceptually and clinically integrated research on traumatic stress, dissociation, and NSSI and SA. Their findings offer a more nuanced picture of the potential role of different forms and degrees of dissociation in SA and NSSI and suggest that dissociation and emotion dysregulation may play a mediating role linking childhood maltreatment and adult or adolescent NSSI. In this introduction, we briefly summarize key points from the special issue articles and point out directions that their findings suggest for future research, including incorporating multiple predictors in studies of NSSI and SA, utilizing longitudinal studies to assess the etiology and course of NSSI and SA, and sampling diverse populations.
Topics: Dissociative Disorders; Humans; Risk Factors; Self-Injurious Behavior; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Suicide
PubMed: 25760316
DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2015.989648