Dissociation and the fragmentary nature of traumatic memories: Overview and exploratory study

Abstract

Since trauma arises from an inescapable stressful event that overwhelms people's coping mechanisms, it is uncertain to what degree the results of laboratory studies of ordinary events are relevant to the understanding of traumatic memories. This paper reviews the literature on differences between recollections of stressful and of traumatic events. It then reviews the evidence implicating dissociation as the central pathogenic mechanism that gives rise to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A systematic exploratory study of 46 subjects with PTSD indicated that traumatic memories were retrieved, at least initially, in the form of dissociated mental imprints of sensory and affective elements of the traumatic experience: as visual, olfactory, affective, auditory, and kinesthetic experiences. Over time, subjects reported the gradual emergence of a personal narrative that can be properly referred to as "explicit memory." The implications of these findings for understanding the nature of traumatic memories are discussed.

Flashbulb memories and posttraumatic stress reactions across the life span: Age-related effects of the German occupation of Denmark during World War II.

“…These findings suggest that it may be detrimental to the person's well-being if cognitive schemata are accommodated too well to fit a traumatic event. This can be seen to contradict the more common view that a key characteristics of posttraumatic stress reactions is a poor integration of the trauma into the life story and identity of the person (e.g., Nijenhuis & van der Hart, 1999;van der Kolk & Fisler, 1995) and that symptoms of PTSD is due to the lack of an accommodation of cognitive schemata to match the reality of the trauma (Horowitz, 1986).…”

Dissociation and pain perception: An experimental investigation

“…Gershuny & Thayer, 1999;Holmes et al, 2005), this concept remains loosely and inconsistently defined. According to van der Kolk and Fisler (1995), " Dissociation refers to a compartmentalization of experience: elements of the experience are not integrated into a unitary whole, but are stored in memory as isolated fragments and stored as sensory perceptions, affective states or as behavioral reenactments" (p. 506). From this perspective, dissociation is a cognitive mechanism that is inferred from subsequent severe disturbances of memory, such as those found in Dissociative Identity Disorder.…”

Gravidade psicopatológica em mulheres vítimas de violência doméstica

“…Em nossa amostra, 76% das vítimas de VD apresentaram grande probabilidade de desenvolver transtorno de estresse pós-traumáti-co. Várias comorbidades estariam potencialmente associadas a esse quadro quando não tratado, por exemplo depressão e outros transtornos de ansiedade. Em estudo envolvendo indivíduos com diagnóstico de transtorno de estresse pós-traumá-tico, foram encontradas experiências dissociativas prévias ao desenvolvimento do transtorno 19 . Segundo os autores, essas experiências teriam um papel na patogênese do quadro, sendo, portanto, recomendado o manejo psicoterapêutico desse mecanismo no trabalho com memórias traumáticas 19 .…”

“…Em estudo envolvendo indivíduos com diagnóstico de transtorno de estresse pós-traumá-tico, foram encontradas experiências dissociativas prévias ao desenvolvimento do transtorno 19 . Segundo os autores, essas experiências teriam um papel na patogênese do quadro, sendo, portanto, recomendado o manejo psicoterapêutico desse mecanismo no trabalho com memórias traumáticas 19 .…”