Assessing the structure and meaningfulness of the dissociative subtype of PTSD

Jana Ross, Gabriel Baník, Mária Dědová, Gabriela Mikulášková, Cherie Armour*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)
307 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: Studies 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. Methods: A latent profile analysis was applied to the PTSD and dissociation data from 689 trauma-exposed university students from Slovakia. Results: Four 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. Conclusion: The results provide support for the proposal that the dissociative PTSD subtype can be characterized by a variety of dissociative symptoms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)87-97
Number of pages11
JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume53
Issue number1
Early online date29 Sept 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Dissociation
  • DSM-5
  • Latent profile analysis
  • PTSD
  • Subtype

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health(social science)
  • Social Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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