Factors Associated with Pathological Dissociation in the General Population

Abstract

A significant relationship between pathological dissociation, depression, alexithymia, and suicidality was found in the general population. The importance of these factors should be examined in a prospective study design to determine causality.

Relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociation, quality of life, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among earthquake survivors

“…Research has shown that dissociative symptoms have an important role in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Galatzer-Levy et al, 2011;Stein et al, 2013;Wolf et al, 2012). Nonetheless, cooccurring dissociation is not peculiar to PTSD rather a broad range of dissociative symptomatology could be commonly observed among patients with other psychiatric disorders and even in general population (Giesbrecht et al, 2004;Maaranen et al, 2005;Mulder et al, 1998). Patients with dissociative symptoms have significantly higher rates of comorbid psychiatric conditions including depression, borderline personality disorder, and self-mutilation and suicide attempts (Ebrinc et al, 2008;Maaranen et al, 2005;Zoroglu et al, 2003).…”

“…Nonetheless, cooccurring dissociation is not peculiar to PTSD rather a broad range of dissociative symptomatology could be commonly observed among patients with other psychiatric disorders and even in general population (Giesbrecht et al, 2004;Maaranen et al, 2005;Mulder et al, 1998). Patients with dissociative symptoms have significantly higher rates of comorbid psychiatric conditions including depression, borderline personality disorder, and self-mutilation and suicide attempts (Ebrinc et al, 2008;Maaranen et al, 2005;Zoroglu et al, 2003). Also, it has been consistently demonstrated that dissociative experiences were associated with impaired quality of life such as physical and social functioning (Mitchell et al, 2012).…”

Dissociative experiences in patients with epilepsy

“…The prevalence rates has varied from a low of 1.0% to a high of 12.8% depending on the cut-off point indicative of pathological dissociative symptomatology 3,4 . The Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) is the most widely used standard screening tool utilized for assessing dissociative symptoms 3,4,5 .The strong linkages of dissociation to childhood emotional, physical or sexual trauma have long been recognized. Dissociation is considered to serve as a defense mechanism againts intolerable, trauma-associated memories and feelings 4 .…”

“…Dissociative experiences occur on a continuum ranging from the minor or normative dissociative states such as absorbtion or daydreaming customary to daily life to pathological states such as dissociative identity disorder 2 . The prevalence rates has varied from a low of 1.0% to a high of 12.8% depending on the cut-off point indicative of pathological dissociative symptomatology 3,4 . The Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) is the most widely used standard screening tool utilized for assessing dissociative symptoms 3,4,5 .…”

“…Dissociation is considered to serve as a defense mechanism againts intolerable, trauma-associated memories and feelings 4 . Despite dissociative disorders are conceptualized in a separate spectrum, pathological dissociation has been demonstrated to be higly co-occurring condition with mental disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, and substance use disorder 4 . Dissociative experiences can also be observed in different types of brain pathology such as epilepsy, head injuiry, tumor, encephalitis and intoxication 6,7 .…”