Towards a cognitive model and measure of dissociation

Dissociation comprises a range of psychological processes, which have largely been the subject of psychodynamic discussion. Dissociative phenomena are for the most part unaddressed by cognitive theorists. Current measures are atheoretical and our understanding of dissociation has been hampered by the absence of clear psychological models. This paper describes a new cognitive model of dissociation and the development and validation of a theoretically based measure-the Wessex Dissociation Scale (WDS). The WDS has adequate internal consistency, shows convergent validity with the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II), and is equivalent to the DES-II in its associations with severe psychopathology. However, the WDS has some advantages over the DES-II, in that it is sensitive to milder manifestations of dissociation, demonstrating links to less severe pathologies. The findings described here provide preliminary support for the usefulness of the cognitive model, and the varied consequences of dissociative processes. The clinical and research utility of the model and the scale are discussed.