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The Induction of Dissociative States: A Meta-Analysis
Benjamin Brake1, Lillian Wieder2, Natasha Hughes3
1Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
This meta-analysis shows that dissociative states are common in psychiatric disorders and can be reliably induced experimentally. Methods like mirror gazing and agents such as ketamine effectively model dissociation.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Dissociative states involve discontinuities in awareness and perception.
- These states are linked to various psychiatric disorders.
- Experimental modeling of dissociation is crucial but lacks comparative efficacy data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify dissociative states at baseline across diagnostic categories.
- To compare the efficacy of different experimental induction methods for dissociation.
- To assess dissociation in clinical and nonclinical samples.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of 123 eligible articles (6692 individuals).
- Used Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale for quantification.
- Analyzed effect sizes (Hedges' g) for psychological and pharmacological induction methods.
Main Results:
- Elevated baseline dissociation observed in multiple diagnostic categories, notably in posttraumatic stress disorder with dissociative and complex (PTSD-DC) features.
- Mirror gazing and pharmacological agents (ketamine, cannabis) most effectively induced dissociation experimentally.
- Induced dissociation levels in some experiments surpassed baseline levels in PTSD-DC.
Conclusions:
- Multiple diagnostic categories exhibit elevated state dissociation.
- Psychological and pharmacological methods reliably induce dissociation experimentally.
- Findings support the efficacy of experimental dissociation models and inform clinical interventions.
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