Dissociation as a mediator between childhood abuse and hallucinations: an exploratory investigation using dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Amy Nesbit, Martin J Dorahy, Rachael Palmer, Warwick Middleton, Lenaire Seager, Donncha Hanna

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the relationship between childhood abuse and the presence of auditory hallucinations is mediated by dissociation, specifically depersonalization and absorption. The current study assessed dissociation as a mediator of the relationship between childhood abuse and auditory hallucination and associated in those with dissociative identity disorder (DID; = 50) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD; = 49). It also tested whether dissociation mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and the of non-auditory hallucinations. Participants completed measures of childhood abuse, dissociation, auditory hallucination frequency, characteristics, distress, and non-auditory hallucinations. With distress associated with auditory hallucinations as the outcome, depersonalization was a mediator in the DID group. For non-auditory hallucinations, in the DID group depersonalization and amnesia were mediators between childhood abuse and the presence of visual, tactile and olfactory hallucinations. In the SSD group absorption mediated between childhood abuse and visual, olfactory and gustatory hallucinations. Results suggest that the presence of non-auditory hallucinations in DID and SSD are associated with different dissociative experiences.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)521-538
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Trauma & Dissociation
Volume23
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Apr 2022

Keywords

  • non-auditory hallucinations
  • auditory hallucinations
  • dissociation
  • Trauma

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