Dissociative experiences and dissociative minds: Exploring a nomological network of dissociative functioning

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Dissociative experiences are complex psychological phenomena.
• Understanding the psychometric properties of assessment tools like the DES-II is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• A nomological network of dissociative functioning is needed to understand its correlates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) in an Italian adult sample.
• To investigate the nomological network of dissociative functioning.
• To explore the relationship between dissociative experiences and theory of mind, alexithymia, attachment, and empathy.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 794 Italian adults (55% female, aged 18-64).
• Participants completed the DES-II, alongside measures of theory of mind, alexithymia, attachment style, and empathy.
• Psychometric analyses included internal consistency, item-to-scale homogeneity, split-half reliability, and factor analysis.

Main Results:

• The Italian DES-II demonstrated high internal consistency, adequate homogeneity, and good reliability.
• A single-factor solution for pathological dissociation (DES-T) fit the data well.
• Higher dissociative experiences correlated with lower theory of mind and empathy, and higher alexithymia, preoccupied, and fearful attachment.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the validity of the DES-II in Italian adults.
• Severe dissociative experiences are associated with difficulties in mentalization, affect regulation, and interpersonal relationships.
• Clinical interventions for dissociative individuals should address potential deficits in mentalization, empathy, affect regulation, and attachment.