![]() ![]() Numerous studies have provided empirical evidence for a link between dissociation and psycho-trauma, including severe childhood maltreatment. Dissociation can also interfere with emotional learning and hinder the acquisition of new information in stressful contexts, e.g., during exposure therapy. Salient characteristics of a stressful event may be stored (compartmentalized) as fragmented memories, which can later recur as intrusive flashbacks. Dissociation can hinder the integration of emotions, thoughts, and sensations. This initially adaptive response may become maladaptive if generalized to other stressful situations. It has been proposed that dissociation may serve as an (evolutionary-based) defense mechanism to cope with unbearable, overwhelming experiences during a potentially traumatizing event. Trauma models consider psychological trauma a crucial risk factor in the development of dissociation. Currently, two main perspectives exist: trauma models and socio-cognitive models. Most models propose a complex interplay of multiple factors, including genetic neurobiological vulnerabilities, temperamental dispositions, and environmental factors. The etiology of dissociation is still strongly debated. ![]() Therefore, it remains of upmost importance to further improve the understanding and management of pathological dissociation. Many patients who experience pathological dissociation report a long history of hospitalizations and misdiagnoses, before finding adequate treatment. The differentiation between dissociative and psychotic symptoms can be challenging. Dissociative symptoms may further occur in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In clinical settings, dissociation is a core symptom of various disorders, including dissociative disorders (e.g., dissociative identity disorder, DID), (complex) post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD, PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). ![]() Dissociative experiences exist on a continuum and also occur in non-clinical populations. Somatoform symptoms include altered pain perception (analgesia) and a loss of voluntary motor control. Memory disruptions can range from a diminished ability to access normally amenable information to dissociative amnesia. Psychological symptoms include subjective detachment from the own person (depersonalization) or the environment (derealization), which may be perceived as unreal, blurry, movie-like, or lacking significance. It is broadly defined as a discontinuity or disruption of usually integrated functions, such as consciousness, perception, attention, memory, and identity. In this editorial, recent conceptualizations of dissociation and relevant previous research are introduced in order to provide a framework for this novel research.ĭissociation is a complex trans-diagnostic phenomenon, which comprises a wide range of symptoms. This article collection brings together research on dissociation and trauma, with a special focus on BPD or sub-clinical expressions of BPD. More research in the field is strongly needed to improve the understanding and management of this complex phenomenon. ![]() Stress-related dissociation is a prevalent symptom of BPD, which may interfere with psychosocial functioning and treatment outcome. Next to traumatic experiences, temperamental and neurobiological vulnerabilities seem to contribute to the development of dissociation. Traumatic stress is considered an important risk factor, while the etiology of dissociation is still debated. Dissociation is a complex phenomenon, which occurs in various clinical conditions, including dissociative disorders, (complex) post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD, PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). ![]()
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