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The Concept of Peritraumatic Dissociation: A Qualitative Approach
Patrícia Ferreira Mattos1, João Alencar Pedrini2, José Paulo Fiks2
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil mattos.patricia@gmail.com.
Qualitative Health Research
|November 5, 2015
Summary
Peritraumatic dissociation, a key factor in post-traumatic stress disorders, involves a breakdown in synthesizing internal and external experiences. This study clarifies the concept by analyzing urban violence victims
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Peritraumatic dissociation is recognized as significant in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development.
- The precise nature and mechanisms of peritraumatic dissociation remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and clarify the concept of peritraumatic dissociation.
- To investigate the subjective experience of dissociation during traumatic events.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with eight victims of urban violence.
- Grounded Theory (GT) methodology was employed for data analysis.
- Analysis focused on participants' perceptions of their inner/outer worlds and interpersonal impressions.
Main Results:
- Peritraumatic dissociation was conceptualized as a failure in synthesizing internal and external stimuli, including temporal-spatial structures.
- This synthesis failure occurred despite intact cognitive-perceptual abilities.
- The findings suggest dissociation disrupts the coherence and meaningfulness of conscious experience.
Conclusions:
- Peritraumatic dissociation represents a fundamental disruption in the integration of sensory and cognitive information during trauma.
- Understanding this failure of synthesis is crucial for comprehending PTSD development.
- The study provides a refined conceptual framework for peritraumatic dissociation, drawing parallels with Jaspers' psychopathology.
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