Dissociative experiences in China.
The Dissociative Experiences Scale was administered to a non-clinical sample in Shanghai, China (N = 618) and the results were compared with a previous sample of the general population from Winnipeg, Canada (N = 1055). The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was administered to the 618 Chinese participants and results were compared with those of the Canadian participants (N = 502). In addition, both measures were administered to a sample of Chinese psychiatric inpatients (N = 423) and outpatients (N = 304). Rates of childhood trauma and dissociation were far lower in the Chinese non-clinical sample than in the two Chinese psychiatric patient groups, and far lower than in the Canadian general population. Among the 618 respondents in the Chinese non-clinical sample, no childhood sexual abuse was reported and only one person reported childhood physical abuse. These rates of childhood abuse were far lower than in other non-clinical samples from China; for example, rates were 16.7% for sexual abuse of girls and 10.5% for sexual abuse of boys in a previous study. Among the more traumatized Chinese psychiatric patients, and among the Canadian respondents, dissociative experiences were much more common than in the Chinese general population. The data provide a base frequency for dissociation in non-clinical samples reporting little or no childhood physical and sexual abuse.
Xiao
Zeping
Z
Shanghai Mental Health Center.
Yan
Hequin
H
Wang
Zhen
Z
Zhou
Zheng
Z
Xu
Yong
Y
Cheng
Jue
J
Zhang
Haiyin
H
Ross
Colin A
CA
Keyes
Benjamin B
BB
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors