Dissociation as a Mediator Between Childhood Abuse and Hallucinations: An Exploratory Investigation Using Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. Issue 5 (20th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nesbit, Amy; Dorahy, Martin J.; Palmer, Rachael; Middleton, Warwick; Seager, Lenaire; Hanna, Donncha
• Is Part Of: Journal of trauma & dissociation. Volume 23:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 521
• Page End: 538
• Publication Date: 2022-10-20
• Subjects: Trauma -- dissociation -- auditory hallucinations -- non-auditory hallucinations; Multiple personality -- Periodicals; Dissociative disorders -- Periodicals; Psychic trauma -- Periodicals; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; 616.852305
• DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2022.2064579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1529-9740

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Previous research has shown that the relationship between childhood abuse and the presence of auditory hallucinations is mediated by dissociation, specifically depersonalization and absorption. The current study assessed dissociation as a mediator of the relationship between childhood abuse and auditory hallucination frequency, characteristics and associated distress in those with dissociative identity disorder (DID; n = 50) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD; n = 49). It also tested whether dissociation mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and the presence of non-auditory hallucinations. Participants completed measures of childhood abuse, dissociation, auditory hallucination frequency, characteristics, distress, and non-auditory hallucinations. With distress associated with auditory hallucinations as the outcome, depersonalization was a mediator in the DID group. For non-auditory hallucinations, in the DID group depersonalization and amnesia were mediators between childhood abuse and the presence of visual, tactile and olfactory hallucinations. In the SSD group absorption mediated between childhood abuse and visual, olfactory and gustatory hallucinations. Results suggest that the presence of non-auditory hallucinations in DID and SSD are associated with different dissociative experiences.