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Trauma-Related Altered States of Consciousness (TRASC) and Functional Impairment II: Perceived Causal Relationships in an Online Sample

Nicole C A Tzannidakis, Paul Frewen

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation September 17, 2015 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2015.1024059 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed
Population Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
Topics Altered states of consciousness
Key findings Individuals attributed their social and work-related problems more strongly to NWC-distress than to TRASC, though both independently accounted for variance in functioning.

Abstract

Research supports the existence of a dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder, although studies have not directly compared the perceived impact of dissociative versus nondissociative posttraumatic symptoms on social and occupational functioning. In addition, research is beginning to differentiate between posttraumatic distress associated with normal waking consciousness (NWC) and dissociative experiences of trauma-related altered states of consciousness (TRASC) along multiple phenomenological dimensions. The current study investigated perceived causal relationships between posttraumatic symptoms associated with NWC-distress and TRASC on the one hand and interpersonal and occupational functioning on the other. Although both TRASC and NWC-distress independently accounted for variance in self-reported interpersonal and occupational problems, perceived causal relationship results showed that individuals tended to attribute their social and work-related problems more strongly to NWC-distress than to TRASC. Future research directions are discussed.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science Meditators 2018 Cross-sectional online survey n = 1,120
Altered states of consciousness and hypnosis in the twenty-first century 2005 Survey and commentary
Naturalistic use of psychedelics is related to emotional reactivity and self-consciousness: The mediating role of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences Adults with varying histories of psychoactive substance use, including 1661... 2022 Cross-sectional survey n = 2,516
Salvia divinorum use and phenomenology: results from an online survey. Recent users of Salvia divinorum 2011 Survey n = 154
Examination of the Phenomenology of the Ibogaine Treatment Experience: Role of Altered States of Consciousness and Psychedelic Experiences. Individuals who used ibogaine in the past 2017 Retrospective survey n = 27

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