Relationships Between Self-Reported Potentially Traumatizing Events, Psychoform and Somatoform Dissociation, and Absorption, in Two Non-Clinical Populations

Abstract

Objective: Some authors have suggested that the personality characteristic 'fantasy proneness' may mediate the correlation between reported potentially traumatizing events and dissociative symptoms. Other authors question the reported magnitude of this correlation in non-clinical samples because these are usually derived from student samples and may therefore suffer from a restriction of range. The primary aim of this study is to assess the relationship between a self-report measure of traumatisation and psychoform dissociation as well as somatoform dissociation in a non-clinical population, while accounting for the influence of fantasy proneness. Method: Two random non-clinical samples, i.e., a student and an adult non-student sample, completed a range of relevant self report questionnaires. Absorption was used as an index of fantasy proneness. Results: The range of reported potentially traumatising events was restricted in students, compared to non-students. In both samples a significant correlation was found between reported potentially traumatizing events and dissociation. After partialling out absorption, the relationship between reported potential traumatisation and psychoform dissociation diminished substantially in both samples. The magnitude of the correlation with somatoform dissociation decreased to a lesser degree, so that it remained significant in both samples. Conclusions: The correlation between somatoform dissociation and reported traumatisation, after partialling out absorption, gives a reliable estimate of the magnitude of the relationships between potentially traumatising events and dissociation. Findings regarding traumatisation and dissociation in students should be generalised to the general population cautiously.

Do Motivations for Malingering Matter? Symptoms of Malingered PTSD as a Function of Motivation and Trauma Type

“…Our results also indicated that high levels of fantasy proneness and dissociation were related to higher scores on most of the clinical scales on the TSI, which is consistent with some previous research. For example, Naring and Nijenhuis (2005) found that individuals rated high on dissociation displayed these tendencies when reporting various traumatic events. Similarly, Titchenor et al (1996) reported levels of dissociation linked to greater PTSD symptom reporting.…”

Trauma Prevalence and Somatoform Symptoms

“…This is compatible with the notion of somatoform dissociation, a term coined by Nijenhuis (1999) to describe a disruption between the normal mental synthesis of ideas and functions, which can lead to presentations as negative symptoms (loss of function as e.g., anesthesia or paralysis) or positive symptoms (e.g., altered function as pain). Although the mental and physiological processes leading to dissociative symptoms are not completely understood, the association of dissociative symptoms with traumatizations is empirically well validated (Naring and Nijenhuis, 2005;Pribor et al, 1993;van der Kolk et al, 1996).…”

Testimonial theatre-making: Establishing or dissociating the self.

“…The original hypothesis, developed from Pierre Janet's work, claimed that dissociation is a defensive coping strategy for overwhelming traumatic events (Giesbrecht, Geraerts & Merckelbach, 2007;Martinez-Toboas & Bemal, 2000;Naring & Nijenhuis, 2005;van der Boom, van den Hout, & Huntjens, 2010). The other hypothesis links high fantasy proneness to dissociative tendencies, an association that suggests that, while fantasy proneness is integral to healthy psychological functioning, when it is extensive, vivid, and uncontrolled, it can decrease cognitive processing, increase dissociation, and bias trauma selfreports (Merkelbach, Horselenberg & Schmidt, 2002).…”