Types of dissociation and dissociative types: A taxometric analysis of dissociative experiences.

Abstract

This article examined evidence for dimensional and typological models of dissociation. The authors reviewed previous research with the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DBS; E. B. Bernstein-Carlson & F. W. Putnam, 1986) and note that this scale, like other dissociation questionnaires, was developed to measure that socalled dissociative continuum. Next, recently developed taxometric methods for distinguishing typological from dimensional constructs are described and applied to DBS item-response data from 228 adults with diagnosed multiple personality disorder and 228 normal controls. The taxometric findings empirically justify the distinction between two types of dissociative experiences. Nonpathological dissociative experiences are manifestations of a dissociative trait, whereas pathological dissociative experiences are manifestations of a latent class variable. The taxometric findings also indicate that there are two types of dissociators. Individuals in the pathological dissociative class (taxon) can be identified with a brief, 8-item questionnaire called the DES-T. Scores on the DES-T and DBS are compared in 11 clinical and nonclinical samples. It is concluded that the DES-T is a sensitive measure of pathological dissociation, and the implications of these taxometric results for the identification, treatment, and understanding of multiple personality disorder and allied pathological dissociative states are discussed. In his original formulation of the construct, Pierre Janet (1889) viewed clinical dissociation as a discontinuity in awareness that is rarely experienced by healthy individuals (Perry & Laurence, 1984). His

Taxometric Investigation of PTSD: Data From Two Nationally Representative Samples

“…Specifically, several types of psychopathology, particularly those that are associated with strong biological or environmental influences, have been found to be taxonic. For example, discrete categories have been indicated with regard to schizotypy ( [Korfine and Lenzenweger, 1995] and [Lenzenweger and Korfine, 1992] ), bulimia nervosa (Gleaves et al, 2000), endogenous depression (Haslam & Beck, 1994), and pathological dissociation ( [Waller et al, 1996] and [Waller and Ross, 1997] ). Thus, any attempts to refine psychiatric nosology should not be based on preconceived, or even "expert," notions regarding the categorical or dimensional nature of psychopathology.…”

Relationships Between Self-Reported Potentially Traumatizing Events, Psychoform and Somatoform Dissociation, and Absorption, in Two Non-Clinical Populations

“…Taxometric studies have indicated that it is useful to distinguish between "normal" and "pathological" dissociation. Individuals in the "pathological" dissociative class (taxon) can be identified with a brief, 8-item questionnaire called the DES-T [32]. The remaining items may not measure true dissociation-defined as a lack of integration of mental and behavioural phenomena that an individual experiences and memorizes--but measure absorption-like phenomena, i.e., alterations of consciousness.…”

O diagnóstico diferencial entre experiências espirituais e transtornos mentais de conteúdo religioso

“…Heber et al 56 and Ross and Joshi 38 propose that studies should be done with non-clinical populations, so that their results can be more generally applied to the non-diagnosed population.…”

“…According to Waller et al 38 and Martinez-Taboas 39 , pathological dissociation expresses itself through amnesia, depersonalization-derealization, confusion and alteration of identity.…”

“…Waller et al 38 and Martinez-Taboas 30 proposed that non-pathological dissociation involves the capacity of absorption and imaginative involvement and constitutes a human experience to which all individuals are prone, in a higher or lower degree. Tellegen and Atkinson 40 defined absorption as a state of complete attention in which the mind seems to be totally dedicated to experiencing the perceived object.…”