The enemy in the mirror: self-perception-induced stress results in dissociation of psychological and physiological responses in patients with dissociative disorder. (1st November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schäflein, Eva; Sattel, Heribert; Schmidt, Ulrike; Sack, Martin
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 9(2018)Supplement 3
• Publication Date: 2018-11-01
• Subjects: Autonomic nervous system -- avoidance -- dissociative disorder -- face in the mirror -- impedance cardiography -- mirror-confrontation -- parasympathetic -- post-traumatic stress disorder -- self-perception -- sympathetic; sistema nervioso autónomo -- evitación -- trastorno disociativo -- mirarse en el espejo -- cardiografía de impedancia -- espejo-confrontación -- sistema nervioso parasimpático -- trastorno de estrés postraumático -- autopercepción -- sistema nervioso simpático; 自主神经系统回避 -- 分离障碍 -- 面对镜子 -- 阻抗心动描记法 -- 镜面对抗 -- 副交感神经 -- 创伤后应激障碍 -- 自我认知 -- 同情心; Dissociative disorder (DD) patients conducted facial mirror exposure. This resulted in increased subjective stress and acute dissociation. In contrast, impedance cardiography showed autonomic blunting. Self-perception is potentially an important target for psychotherapy in DD.; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2018.1472991
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Patients suffering from dissociative disorders (DD) are characterized by an avoidance of aversive stimuli. Clinical experience has shown that DD patients typically avoid the confrontation with their own faces in a mirror (CFM). Objective : To investigate potential CFM-associated self-reported and psychophysiological stress reactions of DD patients, which most likely inform on the still unknown pathophysiology of dysfunctional self-perception in DD. Method : Eighteen DD patients and 18 healthy controls (HCs) underwent CFM. They were assessed for CFM-induced subjective self-reported stress, acute dissociative symptoms and sympathetic and parasympathetic drive using impedance cardiography. Results : DD patients experienced more subjective stress and acute dissociation than HCs upon CFM. Their psychological stress response did not activate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Conclusions : In DD patients, CFM constitutes serious self-reported stress and is associated with a blunted autonomic reactivity. Therapeutic approaches promoting self-perception and self-compassion, in particular by using CFM, might serve as goal-oriented diagnostic and therapeutic tools in DD.