Inducing dissociative states: A (re)view from the laboratory

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Dissociative disorders are complex mental health conditions.
• Understanding the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of dissociation is crucial.
• Laboratory-based inductions are a promising avenue for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of laboratory-based techniques for inducing dissociative states.
• To identify and analyze existing methods used in dissociation research.
• To evaluate the validity and consistency of these induction techniques.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, and Google Scholar.
• Inclusion criteria applied to identify relevant studies.
• Analysis of 19 distinct laboratory-based induction techniques.

Main Results:

• 59 articles met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Several techniques demonstrated the ability to elicit changes in dissociative symptoms.
• Significant heterogeneity was observed in the definition and measurement of dissociation across studies.

Conclusions:

• Laboratory inductions can alter dissociative symptoms, aiding research.
• Inconsistencies in defining and measuring dissociation raise validity concerns.
• Recommendations for future research are provided to enhance methodological rigor.