Assessing the structure and meaningfulness of the dissociative subtype of PTSD
Jana Ross, G. Baník, M. Dědová, Gabriela Mikulášková, Cherie Armour
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology September 29, 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-017-1445-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Latent profile analysis (cross-sectional survey study) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 689 |
| Population | Trauma-exposed university students from Slovakia, predominantly female (83.16%) |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Key findings | Four latent profiles of PTSD and dissociation symptoms emerged: non-symptomatic, moderate PTSD, high PTSD, and dissociative PTSD. The dissociative PTSD profile showed elevated depersonalization and derealization along with gaps in awareness and memory, sensory misperceptions, and cognitive and behavioural re-experiencing, plus elevated memory impairment and reckless or self-destructive behaviour. Anxiety and anger predicted membership in this profile, which the authors say supports a dissociative PTSD subtype characterized by varied dissociative symptoms. |
Abstract
PurposeStudies conducted in the USA, Canada and Denmark have supported the existence of the dissociative PTSD subtype, characterized primarily by symptoms of depersonalization and derealization. The current study aimed to examine the dissociative PTSD subtype in an Eastern European, predominantly female (83.16%) sample, using an extended set of dissociative symptoms.MethodsA latent profile analysis was applied to the PTSD and dissociation data from 689 trauma-exposed university students from Slovakia.ResultsFour latent profiles of varying PTSD and dissociation symptomatology were uncovered. They were named non-symptomatic, moderate PTSD, high PTSD and dissociative PTSD. The dissociative PTSD profile showed elevations on depersonalization and derealization, but also the alternative dissociative indicators of gaps in awareness and memory, sensory misperceptions and cognitive and behavioural re-experiencing. The core PTSD symptoms of ‘memory impairment’ and ‘reckless or self-destructive behaviour’ were also significantly elevated in the dissociative PTSD profile. Moreover, anxiety and anger predicted membership in the dissociative PTSD profile.ConclusionThe results provide support for the proposal that the dissociative PTSD subtype can be characterized by a variety of dissociative symptoms.