Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
13.3K
Dissociative features in posttraumatic stress disorder: A latent profile analysis
Jana Műllerová1, Maj Hansen2, Ateka A Contractor3
1School of Psychology, Ulster University.
Summary
This study identified a distinct dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) profile beyond depersonalization and derealization. Alternative dissociation symptoms and specific demographics like anxiety and minority background predicted this profile.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by depersonalization/derealization symptoms.
- Research is needed to explore alternative dissociative features in PTSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a dissociative PTSD profile includes other dissociation features.
- To differentiate this profile from a non-dissociative PTSD profile based on psychopathology and demographics.
Main Methods:
- Latent profile analysis of data from 309 trauma-exposed participants recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk.
- Regression analyses to identify predictors of identified latent classes.
Main Results:
- Three profiles emerged: Baseline, PTSD, and Dissociative.
- The Dissociative profile showed significantly elevated dissociation features.
- Anxiety, male sex, employment, and minority racial background predicted the Dissociative profile over the PTSD profile.
Conclusions:
- Alternative dissociation symptoms are crucial for understanding the dissociative PTSD subtype.
- These findings expand beyond depersonalization and derealization in dissociative PTSD.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Dissociative Disorders
830
Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
830
01:30Dissociative Identity Disorder
1.6K
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...
1.6K
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
815
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
815
01:21Dissociative Amnesia
896
Dissociative amnesia is a complex psychological condition that manifests as an inability to recall personal information, often tied to traumatic or stressful events. Unlike general amnesia, individuals with this condition retain the ability to perform routine activities and procedural tasks, such as operating a phone or navigating public transportation, yet experience profound gaps in autobiographical memory. These lapses may encompass significant life events, such as suicide attempts or...
896
01:16Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency
1.4K
Following the phallic stage in Freud's theory of psychosexual development, children enter a phase called the latency period, which lasts from approximately six to twelve years of age. Unlike earlier stages, where sexual impulses played a central role, Freud believed these impulses are repressed during the latency period, becoming part of the unconscious. This stage is often described as a time of psychological calm after the turbulence of the phallic stage.
The latency period is not...
The latency period is not...
1.4K
01:23Implicit Personality Theories
599
Implicit personality theory explains how individuals make assumptions about the relationships between personality traits, behaviors, and character types. When people learn that someone possesses a particular trait, they tend to infer the presence of other related characteristics, forming a cohesive impression. This cognitive shortcut plays a crucial role in social interactions and interpersonal judgments.Central Traits and Their InfluenceSolomon Asch's seminal 1946 study highlighted the power...
599