title: Predictors of trait dissociation and peritraumatic dissociation induced via cold pressor.
abstract: Understanding which factors predict individual dissociative response during stressful situations is important to clarify the nature of dissociation and the mechanisms associated to its use as a coping strategy. The present study examined (1) whether experiential avoidance (EA), anxiety sensitivity (AS), depressive symptoms, and state anxiety concurrently predicted trait dissociation (TD)-absorption, amnesia, depersonalization, and total TD scores-and laboratory induced dissociation (LID); and (2) whether TD and catastrophizing predicted LID. We also examined whether catastrophizing mediated the relationships between both AS and depressive symptoms and LID. A total of 101 female undergraduate students participated in a cold pressor task, which significantly induced dissociation. Results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that AS at Time 1 (9 months before the experimental session), as well as depressive symptoms and catastrophizing at the time of the experiment (Time 2), predicted LID at Time 2. Depressive symptoms at Time 2 predicted total TD, absorption, and amnesia scores. AS at Time 1 and depressive symptoms at Time 2 predicted depersonalization. AS, depressive symptoms, and catastrophizing seem to facilitate the use of dissociative strategies by healthy individuals, even in response to non-traumatic but discomforting stress.
authors.affiliation: Anxiety Illness and Behaviours Laboratory & Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2. Electronic address: lydia.gomez.perez@uregina.ca.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pérez
authors.forename: Alicia Eva
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: López-Martínez
authors.forename: Gordon John Glenn
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Asmundson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; C110131:Wilcox compound
keywords: Anxiety sensitivity; Catastrophizing; Cold pressor; Dissociative Experience Scale; Peritraumatic dissociation; Stress; Trait dissociation