Somatization as a predictor of suicidal ideation in dissociative disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study was concerned with correlates of suicidal ideation among patients with chronic complex dissociative disorders.


METHODS
Participants were 40 patients diagnosed as having either dissociative identity disorder or dissociative disorder not otherwise specified according to the DSM-IV. The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Somatoform Dissociation and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaires, the Spielberger Trait Anger Inventory, the Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale, and the Borderline Personality Disorder section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders were administered to all patients.


RESULTS
Patients with suicidal ideas (n = 15) had concurrent somatization disorder more frequently than the remaining patients. Having significantly high scores on both trait and state dissociation measures, their dissociative disorder was more severe than that of the patients with no suicidal ideation. They had elevated scores for childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse and emotional neglect. Concurrent somatization disorder diagnosis was the only predictor of suicidal ideation when childhood trauma scores and borderline personality disorder diagnosis were controlled.


CONCLUSIONS
Among dissociative patients, there is an association between somatization and suicidal ideation. A trauma-related insecure attachment pattern is considered as a common basis of this symptom cluster.
Oztürk
Erdinç
E
Clinical Psychotherapy Unit and Dissociative Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty of Istanbul, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sar
Vedat
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult