Post-traumatic stress disorder, suggestibility, and dissociation related to alleged alien abductions.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) January 1, 2022 José I Latorre, María Y Vellisca
People who report memories of alien abduction experience emotional reactions similar to those of genuinely traumatic events, though the memories may stem from dissociation rather than psychosis. In a comparison of 19 individuals claiming abduction memories and 32 controls, the abductee group scored higher on measures of post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation but lower on suggestibility. Only the difference in suggestibility was statistically significant. The findings suggest that dissociation, not severe mental illness, may explain some cases, and that the emotional impact of implausible memories can mirror that of real trauma.