Dissociative complexity: Antecedents and clinical correlates of a new construct

To the extent that dissociation is a multidimensional phenomenon, and given a growing literature on complex posttraumatic outcomes, we hypothesized a new construct: dissociative complexity (DC). DC is defined as the tendency to simultaneously endorse multiple, relatively independent dissociative dimensions into their clinical ranges, and therefore represents the overall breadth or complexity of an individual's dissociative response.

DC was evaluated in general population and prison participants using the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI; Briere, 2002).

DC was higher among prisoners and women, and, as hypothesized, was associated with cumulative trauma and serious comorbidities (suicidality and substance abuse), even when controlling for generally elevated dissociation.

DC appears to be a meaningful clinical construct that is phenomenologically and empirically different from a unidimensional index of dissociative severity. DC may serve as a clinical marker for multiple trauma exposures, complex dissociative outcomes, and risk of problematic comorbidities. (PsycINFO Database Record