Dissociative experiences of Vietnam veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.
Interest in dissociation has been renewed, and its relationship to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is especially intriguing. In this study 57 consecutively admitted chronic, combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder sufferers were grouped by scores on a dissociative scale (Dissociative Experiences Scale). The three groups (high, medium, and low) were compared on personality measures (MMPI basic scales and subscales, and Millon's MCMI), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder measures, and a psychophysiological index of heart rate under baseline trauma conditions. The results showed that the survivors with more dissociative experiences show distinctive and higher symptom levels--excessive fearfulness, symptoms of strange experiences, and high tonic psychophysiological states--as well as greater severity of ratings of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (on the Mississippi Scale). The discussion addressed the possible role of dissociation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Hyer
L A
LA
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30910.
Albrecht
J W
JW
Boudewyns
P A
PA
Woods
M G
MG
Brandsma
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*