Assessing the structure and meaningfulness of the dissociative subtype of PTSD

J Ross, G Baník, M Dědová, G Mikulášková, C Armour

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Studies conducted in US, Canada and Denmark have supported the existence of the dissociative PTSD subtype, characterized primarily by symptoms of depersonalization and derealisation. The current study aimed to examine the dissociative PTSD subtype in an Eastern European, predominantly female (83.16%), sample, using an extended set of dissociative symptoms. Methods: A latent profile analysis was applied to the PTSD and dissociation data from 689 trauma-exposed university students from Slovakia. Results: Four latent profiles of varying PTSD and dissociation symptomatology were uncovered. They were named Non-symptomatic, Moderate PTSD, High PTSD and Dissociative PTSD. The Dissociative PTSD profile showed elevations on depersonalization and derealisation, but also the alternative dissociative indicators of gaps in awareness and memory, sensory misperceptions and cognitive and behavioural re-experiencing. The core PTSD symptoms of ‘Memory impairment’ and ‘Reckless or self-destructive behaviour’ were also significantly elevated in the Dissociative PTSD profile. Moreover, anxiety and anger predicted membership in the Dissociative PTSD profile. Conclusion: The results provide support for the proposal that the dissociative PTSD subtype can be characterized by a variety of dissociative symptoms.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-11
JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume0
Early online date29 Sept 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 29 Sept 2017

Keywords

  • PTSD
  • Dissociation
  • Subtype
  • DSM-5
  • Latent profile analysis

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