Causal connection between dissociation and ongoing interpersonal violence: A systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Criminology

Background:

• Interpersonal violence is a significant public health issue.
• Dissociation, a mental process involving a disconnection between thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity, is increasingly being explored as a potential contributing factor to violence.
• Understanding the link between dissociation and violence is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature to identify evidence linking dissociation as a cause of ongoing interpersonal violence.
• To explore the role of dissociation in both victimization and perpetration of violence.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• Ten databases were searched to identify relevant studies.
• Fifteen studies, including longitudinal and experimental designs, were included in the final analysis.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests pathological dissociation may contribute to enduring interpersonal violence and repeated victimization.
• Similar indications exist for offenders, though study designs limit causal conclusions.
• Dissociation may impair limbic system information processing, potentially underlying persistent violence.

Conclusions:

• Growing evidence supports dissociation as a cause of interpersonal violence.
• Current evidence is limited, highlighting a significant research gap.
• Future research should address the complexity of dissociation in violence contexts using longitudinal and experimental designs.