Psychosocial stressors that precipitate dissociative trance disorder in Singapore.
OBJECTIVE
To study the psychosocial stressors that precipitate dissociative trance disorder (DTD) and to identify predictors of DTD.


METHODS
We conducted semistructured interviews in which detailed information was obtained for 58 cases diagnosed with DTD at a psychiatric hospital in Singapore. A comparison group of 58 patients who received treatment at the same hospital for major depression (MD) were also interviewed, using the same instrument.


RESULTS
While 100% of the DTD group described at least one psychosocial stressor, only 80% of the MD group did so. Common stressors for the DTD group include problems with military life (38%), conflicts over religious and cultural issues (38%), and domestic disharmony and marital woes (24%). Conflicts over religious and cultural issues seemed to be important in the precipitation of DTD but not in the precipitation of MD (p < 0.001). Logistic regression reveals that the following are positive predictors for DTD: conflicts over religious and cultural issues; prior exposure to trance states; and being a spiritual healer or his/her assistant.


CONCLUSIONS
An understanding of the precipitating psychosocial stressors that overwhelmed the patient's coping abilities would have implications for treatment and enable the clinician to devise strategies for intervention and prevention.
Ng
Beng-Yeong
BY
Department of Behavioural Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore. gdmnby@sgh.com.sg
Chan
Yiong-Huak
YH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003469:Culture; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012846:Singapore