title: Cognitive processes in dissociation: comment on Giesbrecht et al. (2008).
abstract: In their recent review "Cognitive Processes in Dissociation: An Analysis of Core Theoretical Assumptions," published in Psychological Bulletin, Giesbrecht, Lynn, Lilienfeld, and Merckelbach have challenged the widely accepted trauma theory of dissociation, which holds that dissociative symptoms are caused by traumatic stress. In doing so, the authors have outlined a series of links between various constructs--such as fantasy proneness, cognitive failures, absorption, suggestibility, altered information-processing, dissociation, and amnesia--claiming that these linkages lead to the false conclusion that trauma causes dissociation. A review of the literature, however, shows that these are not necessarily related constructs. Careful examination of their arguments reveals no basis for the conclusion that there is no association between trauma and dissociation. The current comment offers a critical review and rebuttal of Giesbrecht et al.'s argument that there is no relationship between trauma and dissociation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30306, USA. jdbremn@emory.edu
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bremner
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy