Evidence for a dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder among help-seeking childhood sexual abuse survivors.
This study examined evidence for a dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women seeking psychotherapy for childhood sexual abuse (CSA). One hundred and twenty-two women seeking treatment for CSA completed a battery of questionnaires assessing PTSD, dissociative symptoms, and child maltreatment. Using signal detection analysis, we identified high and low dissociation PTSD subgroups. A constellation of three PTSD symptoms-hypervigilance, sense of foreshortened future, and sleep difficulties-discriminated between these two subgroups (OR = 8.15). Further evidence was provided by the finding of a nonlinear relationship between severity of childhood maltreatment and dissociation in the women with PTSD. These results provide support for a dissociative subtype of PTSD that may stem from more severe childhood experiences of neglect and abuse.
Ginzburg
Karni
K
Bob Shappel School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel. karnig@post.tau.ac.il
Koopman
Cheryl
C
Butler
Lisa D
LD
Palesh
Oxana
O
Kraemer
Helena C
HC
Classen
Catherine C
CC
Spiegel
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires