Presence of Dissociative Experiences in Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review
Jeremy Cooper, Courtney E Bowser
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review |
|---|---|
| Population | People with chronic illness, as represented in eight reviewed articles |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that dissociative symptoms are not a significant feature of chronic illness but appear in a pre-symptom fashion that can be worsened into a distressing experience depending on mindset and coping strategies. They argue that phenomenological notions of embodiment can offer a broader definition of this experience than clinical definitions alone. |
Abstract
Phenomenological notions of embodiment can coincide or differ from clinical definitions of embodiment. For chronic illness, specifically those in which a sense that one’s life is altered going forward, research has established the need for individuals to have open and flexible mindsets to cope with pain and changes to one’s identity. The question we sought to ask was whether dissociative symptoms manifest in chronic illness presentations, and if so, how these symptoms may present given the possibilities that phenomenology offers for a broader definition of the experience. This systematic literature review followed the PRISMA format, sorting through several of the largest psychological and medical journal databases to identify eight articles that included mentions of dissociative symptoms in those with chronic illness. The full process for this review can be seen throughout this study. The themes we gathered included navigating chronic illness, coping, predisposition, experiential, somatization, and ways of relating. The discussion outlines how dissociative symptoms are not a significant feature to chronic illness, but present in a pre-symptom fashion that can be worsened to a distressing experience dependent on their mindset and coping strategies. Implications for treatment and future research are offered at the end.