The causal link between self-reported trauma and dissociation: a critical review.
The idea that traumatic experiences cause dissociative symptoms is a recurrent theme in clinical literature. The present article summarizes evidence that cast doubts on the commonly voiced view that the connection between self-reported trauma and dissociation is a simple and robust one. It is argued that: (1) the correlations between self-reported traumatic experiences and dissociative symptoms reported in the literature are, at best, modest; (2) other factors may act as a third variable in the relationship between trauma and dissociation; and (3) high scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale are accompanied by fantasy proneness, heightened suggestibility, and susceptibility to pseudomemories. These correlates of dissociation may promote a positive response bias to retrospective self-report instruments of traumatic experiences. Thus, the possibility that dissociation encourages self-reported traumatic experiences rather than vice versa merits investigation. While attractive, simple models in which trauma directly causes dissociation are unlikely to be true.
Merckelbach
H
H
Department of Psychology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. h.merckelbach@psychology.unimaas.nl
Muris
P
P
D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005201:Fantasy; D006801:Humans; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013404:Suggestion