Mentalization and dissociation in the context of trauma: Implications for child psychopathology

Ensink, Karin; Bégin, Michaël; Normandin, Lina; Godbout, Natacha; Fonagy, Peter

doi:10.1080/15299732.2016.1172536

Cited by 95 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The inhibiting effect of RF on potential for violence was also confirmed in the present study, but the size of the effect is small [γ(Std) = -0.235; p < 0.05]. In a study of Ensink et al [40] the influence of RF on externalizing behavior in children was completely mediated by dissociation. While RF might influence children's externalizing behavior in other ways than adolescents' potential for violence, this might be an explanation for the small effect size of RF on potential for violence, since dissociation as a possible mediator was not included in the model.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…However, in contrast to other forms of childhood maltreatment, most studies on sexual abuse focus on depression, PTSD, anxiety disorder, risky sexual behavior, and substance disorder rather than reporting a potential for violence as a primary consequence [35,36,37,38,39]. The few studies that did include indicators of heightened potential for violence, like for example a CD diagnosis, find mixed results [36,37,39,40]. Since the present study focused on the effect and mediators of childhood maltreatment on potential for violence, we did not include sexual abuse in our latent variable childhood maltreatment.…”

Section: Childhood Maltreatment and Potential For Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Mentalization Mediates the Relationship between Early Maltreatment and Potential for Violence in Adolescence

Taubner

Zimmermann

Ramberg³

et al. 2016

Psychopathology

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Aim: The present study investigates the role of attachment representation and mentalization as possibly protective factors in the relationship between early maltreatment and potential for violence in adolescence. Methods: For the current study, 161 adolescents, aged 14-21 years, were recruited from high schools and youth psychiatry. Early maltreatment was assessed by the Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse Questionnaire, attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System, and mentalization was coded with the Reflective Functioning Scale from Adult Attachment Interviews. Potential for violence was operationalized using the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, and the presence of conduct disorder was assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview. Using structural equation modeling, reflective functioning and attachment were tested as mediators on the direct effect of early maltreatment on potential for violence. Results: There was a direct effect of early maltreatment on potential for violence. Furthermore, this direct effect was partially mediated by reflective functioning but not by attachment representations. Discussion: The results contribute to the idea that mentalization serves as a protective factor that may suspend the pathway from early maltreatment to violence in adolescence. Because of the transformation of attachment patterns into generalized cognitive models of attachment, attachment in adolescence may have a less pronounced effect on violence in this specific developmental phase. Future studies should test for further group differences in community and clinical groups, which was not possible in the present study due to the limited sample size.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Childhood Maltreatment and Potential For Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

Mentalization Mediates the Relationship between Early Maltreatment and Potential for Violence in Adolescence

Taubner

Zimmermann

Ramberg³

et al. 2016

Psychopathology

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“…There is emerging evidence to indicate mentalizing failures in traumatized individuals, including lower emotional understanding [17], delayed onset of theory of mind [18], and increased difficulties in mentalizing [13,19,20]. Among survivors of childhood trauma, compromised mentalizing further acts as a risk factor for severe psychopathology such as personality disorders [21], as well as depressive symptoms and externalizing and sexualized behaviours [14,22], indicating that mentalizing can be considered a mediator of the relationship between trauma and posttraumatic symptomatology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidirectional Pathways between Attachment, Mentalizing, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology in the Context of Childhood Trauma

Huang

Fonagy²,

Feigenbaum³

et al. 2020

Psychopathology

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Introduction: Exposure to traumatic stressful events in childhood is an important risk factor for the development of posttraumatic symptomatology. From a mentalization-based developmental perspective, childhood adversity can affect attachment in children and may result in insecure attachment and impaired mentalizing abilities, which increase the lifetime risk for psychopathology. The present cross-sectional study examined the potential mediating role of attachment insecurity and impaired mentalizing on the relationship between childhood trauma and posttraumatic symptomatology. Method: Adults who had experienced childhood neglect and abuse (n = 295, 184 patients with personality disorder and 111 community controls) completed self-report measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, dissociative experiences, adult attachment insecurity, and mentalizing. Results: Structural equation modelling results revealed that attachment insecurity together with lower mentalizing mediated the link between childhood trauma and PTSD symptoms, and lower mentalizing mediated the link between childhood trauma and dissociative experiences. Conclusion: The findings show that attachment insecurity and lower mentalizing play significant mediating roles in the reporting of posttraumatic symptomatology among survivors of childhood abuse and neglect, with treatment implications for mentalization-based therapy as beneficial for individuals with a history of childhood trauma.

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“…From that, it is usual to encounter in research correspondence between child's attachment pattern classification in the Strange Situation experiment and the caregiver attachment style in the Adult Attachment Interview, pointing to intergenerational transmission of attachment. However, not necessarily, attachment patterns remain the same during lifetime, and research shows they can transform, depending on the environment, one's life or the relationships one builds (Ensink et al,2016;.…”

Section: Reflective Function Mentalization and The Unfolding Of Genementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is necessary to know that the self is an emotionally engaged agent Ensink, Normandin, Plamondon, & Fonagy, 2016). It is the representational mapping that aids the child to develop the ability to understand their emotions are analogs to the other, but not identical, initiating the symbolization process.…”

Section: Reflective Function Mentalization and The Unfolding Of Genementioning

confidence: 99%

A Relação Médico-Paciente Sob a Ótica Do Apego: Pensando Caminhos

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Mentalization and dissociation in the context of trauma: Implications for child psychopathology

Cited by 95 publications

References 49 publications

Mentalization Mediates the Relationship between Early Maltreatment and Potential for Violence in Adolescence

Mentalization Mediates the Relationship between Early Maltreatment and Potential for Violence in Adolescence

Multidirectional Pathways between Attachment, Mentalizing, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology in the Context of Childhood Trauma

A Relação Médico-Paciente Sob a Ótica Do Apego: Pensando Caminhos

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