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Panisch LS, Jansen SM, Abudushalamu F, Petersen TR, Meriwether KV. Patient Perspectives on the Psychosocial Impact of Chronic Pelvic Pain and Implications for Integrated Behavioral Care Approaches. J Behav Health Serv Res 2025:10.1007/s11414-024-09926-y. [PMID: 39789400 DOI: 10.1007/s11414-024-09926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2025]
Abstract
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a medically complex, multifaceted gynecological condition associated with psychological comorbidities and sexual trauma among women. Low rates of positive treatment outcomes underscore the need to better understand complex relationships between CPP, trauma exposure, and the psychosocial context of patients' lives. We conducted a secondary analysis of English and Spanish qualitative interviews with female-identity patients (N = 48) about CPP's impact on psychosocial well-being. Interviews were coded and analyzed in accordance with reflexive thematic analysis. We generated 4 themes regarding CPP and psychosocial well-being: navigating pain-filled relationships, multiple burdens of mental health challenges and marginalization, sexual trauma exposure embedded in illness experience, and harnessing hope in healing and dealing with CPP. We used insights from these findings to generate a list of treatment recommendations for trauma-informed, CPP-specific integrated care. Patients described the importance of social support and how psychological comorbidities and trauma exposure contributed to CPP's psychosocial toll. Findings provide insight into the burden of CPP-related minority stress and the role of hope on patients' well-being. Patients with CPP endorse the integration of psychosocial support into their CPP treatment plans. The authors encourage the incorporation of behavioral health providers into integrated care teams to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive methods for engaging patients with CPP in psychosocial interventions addressing multiple domains of well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Panisch
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 5447 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA.
| | | | - Flora Abudushalamu
- School of Medicine, The University of New Mexico, 195 Camino de Salud, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA
| | - Timothy R Petersen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of New Mexico, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, The University of New Mexico, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Office of Graduate Medical Education, The University of New Mexico, 915 Vassar NE, STE 120, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Kate V Meriwether
- School of Medicine, The University of New Mexico, 195 Camino de Salud, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of New Mexico, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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Doustmohammadi F, Tavoli A, Tanhaye Reshvanloo F, Abaszad A. The Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Bodily Distress Syndrome: The Mediating Role of Somatoform Dissociation. J Genet Psychol 2024; 185:355-365. [PMID: 38456805 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2024.2315932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome, and the mediating role of somatoform dissociation. A total of 241 individuals living in Iran aged 20-40 years (M = 26.41 years, SD = 6.30; 74.7% females) were selected by convenience sampling to participate online in the research in March 2023. They answered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Bodily Distress Syndrome Checklist (BDS-25), and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20). The results of the structural equation modeling showed that the model had a good fit, and significant relationships were observed between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome, between childhood traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation, and also between somatoform dissociation and bodily distress syndrome. The results indicated that somatoform dissociation partially mediates the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome. Furthermore, the prevalence of bodily distress syndrome was higher in the female than the male participants. The results thus highlight the role of childhood traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation in creating bodily distress syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Doustmohammadi
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azadeh Tavoli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Asal Abaszad
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
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Vatanparast A, Shakiba S, Momeni F, Kamrani A. The relationship between childhood maltreatment and self-harm: the mediating roles of alexithymia, dissociation, internalizing and posttraumatic symptoms. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2378642. [PMID: 39028641 PMCID: PMC11262236 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2378642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Although childhood maltreatment is associated with later self-harm, the mechanism through which it might lead to self-harm is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the roles of alexithymia, dissociation, internalizing and posttraumatic symptoms in the association between exposure to childhood maltreatment and subsequent self-harm.Methods: A total of 360 adolescents were asked to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dissociative Experience Scale, the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist for DSM-5, and the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory.Results: Results of structural equation modelling analysis revealed the significant mediation effects of alexithymia and dissociative symptoms in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and self-harm, while internalizing and posttraumatic symptoms did not significantly mediate.Conclusion: The findings indicate that alexithymia and dissociative symptoms may be proximal mechanisms linking maltreatment exposure and adolescence self-harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Vatanparast
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Shakiba
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereshte Momeni
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Kamrani
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Panisch LS, Rogers RG, Breen MT, Nutt S, Dahud S, Salazar CA. Dissociation Among Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Relation to Surgical Treatment, Pelvic Pain Severity, and Health-Related Quality of Life. J Trauma Dissociation 2023; 24:296-311. [PMID: 36744637 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2023.2168828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is associated with a history of trauma and symptoms of somatoform dissociation. We aimed to describe how somatoform dissociation impacts CPP symptoms, surgical treatment, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients (N = 133) diagnosed with CPP presenting for an appointment at a women's health clinic between November, 2019 - July, 2021 were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional study and complete a survey assessing symptoms of somatoform dissociation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pelvic pain severity, history of CPP-related surgeries, and mental and physical HRQOL. We also conducted a post-hoc analysis assessing correlations of individual symptom items on the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) with HRQOL outcomes. We did not find a relationship between somatoform dissociation and pelvic pain severity or surgical history. Physical HRQOL outcomes were related to somatoform dissociation, PTSD symptoms, and pelvic pain severity, while mental HRQOL outcomes were connected to somatoform dissociation and PTSD symptoms. Our study reveals preliminary evidence suggesting that among CPP patients, HRQOL outcomes are affected by unique profiles of positive and negative symptoms of somatoform dissociation, including sensory disturbances, localized genital pain, and generalized numbness and bodily analgesia. Addressing specific symptoms of somatoform dissociation may enhance HRQOL among trauma-exposed women with CPP. Replication studies are needed to validate our findings. Integrating trauma-informed approaches, including standardized evaluations of trauma exposure and symptoms of somatoform dissociation into routine care for women with CPP is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Panisch
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Rebecca G Rogers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Michael T Breen
- Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Health Transformation Building, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Stephanie Nutt
- Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, Health Transformation Building, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Soraya Dahud
- Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, Health Transformation Building, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Christina A Salazar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
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Panisch LS, Rogers RG, Breen MT, Nutt S, Dahud S, Salazar CA. Childhood betrayal trauma, dissociation, and shame impact health-related quality of life among individuals with chronic pelvic pain. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 131:105744. [PMID: 35749903 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High betrayal trauma (HBT), or interpersonal trauma perpetrated by someone close, is linked to dissociation and shame, while trauma perpetrated by someone less close, low betrayal trauma (LBT) is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). OBJECTIVE Child interpersonal trauma is common among women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and can negatively impact physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Our study investigates unexplored connections between these variables. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING Survey data were analyzed from 96 English-speaking female patients with CPP at a women's health clinic (mean age = 33, 59 % White non-Hispanic, 62 % married or cohabitating, 61.5 % completed post-high school degree); prevalence of HBT and LBT were 65.2 % and 45.6 %, respectively. METHODS Multiple regression analyzed relationships between mental and physical HRQOL and dissociation, shame, and PTSD. Parallel mediation analyses examined indirect relationships between mental and physical HRQOL and exposure to childhood HBT and LBT. RESULTS Dissociation was related to worse physical HRQOL, while shame was related to worse physical and mental HRQOL. Dissociation and shame mediated relationships between childhood HBT and current mental (R2 = 0.08, p = .01) and physical (R2 = 0.11, p = .002) HRQOL. Shame, but not PTSD, mediated relationships between childhood LBT and current mental (R2 = 0.14, p < .001) and physical (R2 = 0.16, p < .001) HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides preliminary evidence that dissociation and shame negatively impact HRQOL among individuals with CPP in the context of exposure to different types of childhood betrayal trauma. Replication studies to validate our results with larger samples and longitudinal designs are encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Panisch
- Wayne State University School of Social Work, 5447 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America.
| | - Rebecca G Rogers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, 391 Myrtle Ave #2, Albany, NY 12208, United States of America
| | - Michael T Breen
- Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity Street, Bldg. A, 9th Floor, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America; Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, 1501 Red River St, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Nutt
- Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity Street, Bldg. A, 9th Floor, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - Soraya Dahud
- Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity Street, Bldg. A, 9th Floor, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - Christina A Salazar
- Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity Street, Bldg. A, 9th Floor, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America; Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, 1501 Red River St, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
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Piontek K, Apfelbacher C, Ketels G, Brünahl C, Löwe B. Depression Partially Mediates the Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Pain Intensity in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Results from a Cross-Sectional Patient Survey. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 22:1174-1184. [PMID: 33155025 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as emotional and physical maltreatment, are linked to chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) in adults. Psychological factors are important in understanding CPPS. We aimed to determine the nature and frequency of ACEs in male and female patients with CPPS and to investigate whether somatic symptoms and psychological comorbidities mediate the relationship of ACE severity with pain intensity. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Interdisciplinary outpatient clinic for CPPS in Hamburg, Germany. SUBJECTS Individuals with CPPS (n = 234) who were 18 to 84 years of age. METHODS Using a self-administered questionnaire, we assessed the history of ACEs (ACE Scale), pain intensity (McGill Pain Questionnaire), somatic symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-15]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale). Parallel mediation analysis was conducted to examine whether the association of ACE severity with pain intensity is mediated by somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS Emotional abuse and neglect were reported more than twice as often as physical abuse and neglect (37.2% vs 17.1%). Depression partially mediated the association of ACE severity with pain intensity in the whole study population. In sex-stratified analyses, different patterns of associations were observed, but somatic symptoms predicted pain intensity in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS Emotional maltreatment was highly prevalent, supporting an increased consideration of psychological factors in CPPS and indicating the need to screen for ACEs in patients with CPPS. Findings further suggest that depression and somatic symptoms may be important targets for therapeutic interventions in patients with CPPS who have a history of childhood adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Piontek
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christian Apfelbacher
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Gesche Ketels
- Department of Physiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Brünahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Löwe
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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The relationship between dissociation and acute pain: the impact of prior and reactive dissociation. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01798-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Panisch LS, Tam LM. The Role of Trauma and Mental Health in the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review of the Intervention Literature. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2020; 21:1029-1043. [PMID: 30599814 DOI: 10.1177/1524838018821950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a widespread health issue with unclear etiology that has been linked to a history of trauma among women. This condition is known to be highly comorbid with, and potentially exacerbated by psychiatric conditions, as well as other gynecological concerns and functional pain syndromes. Many comorbid conditions are also related to a history of trauma, and cases of CPP with comorbidity are known to be resistant to treatment. While the prevalence of a traumatic history among females with CPP has been established, less is known about how the role of trauma is addressed in the intervention literature. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore how the role of trauma, and to a lesser extent, mental health, is addressed in modern intervention studies for females with CPP. All qualitative and quantitative studies providing primary or secondary results of an intervention for females with CPP published between January 1998 and May 2018 were included and coded independently by two reviewers. Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria. Of these, none focused exclusively on patients with a history of trauma; one study implicitly focused on trauma-specific symptoms as an outcome, while two studies screened patients for a history of trauma. Of the 10 studies with a focus on mental health, only three simultaneously addressed trauma. To address this gap in the literature, future studies can prioritize intervention designs that place emphasis on the role of trauma in regard to patient characteristics and outcome variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Panisch
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Lauren M Tam
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Pernot-Masson A. Persistent genital arousal disorder: A neurodevelopmental hypothesis. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2020.100159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Le syndrome d’excitation génitale permanente : hypothèses neurodéveloppementales. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2020.100155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Panisch LS. Conceptualizations of dissociation and somatization in literature on chronic pelvic pain in women: A scoping review. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Fung HW, Chan C. A preliminary study of the clinical differences between dissociative and nondissociative depression in Hong Kong: implications for mental health practice. SOCIAL WORK IN HEALTH CARE 2019; 58:564-578. [PMID: 30958123 DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2019.1597006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a serious public health issue, but not all patients with depression respond well to pharmaceutical treatments. Some scholars suggested that dissociation could be a marker indicating the types of patients with depression that may benefit more from psychosocial interventions than from pharmaceutical treatments. This study explored the possibility to differentiate dissociative depression and nondissociative depression in a clinical sample (N = 68) in the Chinese context, and discusses the potential implications for treatment considerations. Compared with the nondissociative group, the dissociative group reported higher occurrences of psychosocial etiological risk factors (e.g., childhood physical abuse, lack of help from family) and psychosocial-related symptoms (e.g., unstable relations, fear of abandonment, trauma-related flashbacks, somatization symptoms). Our initial findings revealed that patients with dissociative depression appeared to have distinct clinical features and might require more psychosocial interventions. Implications for health care research and practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang Fung
- a Department of Applied Social Sciences , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom , Hong Kong
| | - Chitat Chan
- a Department of Applied Social Sciences , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom , Hong Kong
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Abstract
The interrelationships between the symptom domains of dissociation, such as the loss of continuity in subjective experience, the inability to access personal information, and the distortions about the perception of self and the environment, need to be better understood. In the current study, 2274 adults from Italy completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II), and their responses were examined within a correlation network analysis framework. Fifteen dissociative experiences showed the strongest associations with the other dissociative experiences included in the measure, and they were selected for further analysis. A partial correlation network was calculated to reveal the associations between such experiences, and a community detection analysis was used to explore whether they formed distinct clusters in the network. Subsequently, a Bayesian network was estimated to examine the direction of the associations among the dissociative experiences, and a directed acyclic graph (DAG) was generated to estimate a potentially causal model of their relationships. The community detection analysis revealed three clusters of experiences that were conceptualized in terms of trance, experiential disconnectedness, and segregated behaviors. Dissociative amnesia was a common denominator of all the three clusters. The analysis of the DAG further suggested that dissociation can be conceptualized as a network in which dissociative experiences are layered into groups of symptoms that interact among them. Cognizance of the configuration and interactions among the dissociative domains and their related symptoms may be critical for better understanding the internal logic behind the dissociative processes and for addressing them effectively in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Schimmenti
- a Faculty of Human and Social Sciences , UKE - Kore University of Enna , Enna , Italy
| | - Vedat Sar
- b Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , Koc University , Istanbul , Turkey
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Farina B, Liotti M, Imperatori C. The Role of Attachment Trauma and Disintegrative Pathogenic Processes in the Traumatic-Dissociative Dimension. Front Psychol 2019; 10:933. [PMID: 31080430 PMCID: PMC6497769 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological, clinical, and neurobiological studies of the last 30 years suggest that traumatic attachments during the early years of life are associated to specific psychopathological vulnerabilities based on dissociative pathogenic processes. It has been observed that the dissociative pathogenic processes caused by these traumatic attachments either may contribute to the genesis of well-defined mental disorders (e.g., dissociative disorders) or may variably occur in many other diagnostic categories, complicating their clinical pictures and worsening their prognosis. For this reason, we proposed to define the dimension of psychopathological outcomes linked to traumatic attachments and dissociative pathogenic processes as the "traumatic-dissociative" dimension (TDD). The clinical complexity of the TDD requires specific training to enable mental health professionals to recognize the signs of traumatic developments and to implement specific treatment strategies. The present article aims to review some crucial points about the clinical meaning and treatment strategies of the TDD, the dissociative pathogenic processes characterizing the TDD, as well as of the role of attachment trauma in the TDD. We also focused on the clinical and theoretical evidence suggesting that dissociation and dis-integration may be considered two different processes but highly correlated. The usefulness of clinical reasoning in terms of psychopathological dimensions, instead of distinct diagnostic categories, as well as several therapeutic implications of these issues was finally discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Farina
- Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Traumatic Treatment Unit, Centro Clinico De Sanctis, Rome, Italy
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Pietkiewicz IJ, Helka AM, Tomalski R. Validity and reliability of the Polish online and pen-and-paper versions of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaires (SDQ-20 and PSDQ-5). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Psychiatric Impact of Organized and Ritual Child Sexual Abuse: Cross-Sectional Findings from Individuals Who Report Being Victimized. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15112417. [PMID: 30384461 PMCID: PMC6266763 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15112417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Organized and ritual child sexual abuse (ORA) is often rooted in the child’s own family. Empirical evidence on possible associations between ORA and trauma-related symptoms in those who report this kind of extreme and prolonged violence is rare. The aim of our study was to explore socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the individuals reporting ORA experiences, and to investigate protective as well as promotive factors in the link between ORA and trauma-related symptom severity. Within the framework of a project of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Germany, we recruited 165 adults who identified themselves as ORA victims via abuse- and trauma-specific networks and mailing lists, and they completed an anonymous online survey. We used variance analyses to examine correlations between several variables in the ORA context and PTSD symptoms (PCL-5) as well as somatoform dissociation (SDQ-5). Results revealed a high psychic strain combined with an adverse health care situation in individuals who report experiences with ORA. Ideological strategies used by perpetrators as well as Dissociative Identity Disorders experienced by those affected are associated with more severe symptoms (η2p = 0.11; η2p = 0.15), while an exit out of the ORA structures is associated with milder symptoms (η2p = 0.11). Efforts are needed to improve health care services for individuals who experience severe and complex psychiatric disorders due to ORA in their childhood.
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Prosopagnosia as a Type of Conversion Disorder. Case Rep Psychiatry 2018; 2018:5972954. [PMID: 29666739 PMCID: PMC5831923 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5972954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Conversion disorder is a common and debilitating condition that remains poorly understood. We present a previously undescribed form of conversion disorder to highlight the complexity of the condition and consider the interplay of factors that produce conversion symptoms. Case A 50-year-old male presented with acquired prosopagnosia and language impairment. Neuropsychological testing indicated right temporal lobe dysfunction. Extensive work-up outruled an organic aetiology. Reactivation of childhood trauma coincided with the onset of his symptoms. Childhood trauma is known to have adverse effects on the developing brain which may affect an individual's emotional behaviour and coping style. Functional neuroimaging techniques suggest that conversion symptoms may be linked to the disruption of higher order neural circuitry involved in the integration of emotional processing and cortical functioning. Conclusions We propose that our patient's adverse childhood experiences led to the development of a particular personality and coping style that “primed” him for a later abnormal emotional and behavioural response when confronted with reminders of his traumatic background. Further interdisciplinary studies are required to further elucidate the neurobiological basis for this condition.
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Trauma, attachment style, and somatization: a study of women with dyspareunia and women survivors of sexual abuse. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2018; 18:29. [PMID: 29382322 PMCID: PMC5791220 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0523-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Evidence points toward shared characteristics between female survivors of sexual abuse and women with dyspareunia. This study explored, for the first time, similarities and differences between women who were exposed to sexual abuse to those with dyspareunia, in order to examine whether insecure attachment styles and high somatization level are associated with trauma among women with dyspareunia. Methods Attachment styles were explored using the Experience in Close Relationships Scale to reflect participants’ levels of anxiety and avoidance. Somatization was assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory focusing on the frequency of painful and non-painful bodily complaints. Trauma was categorized into three levels: sexual trauma, nonsexual trauma, and no trauma. Results Sexually abused (SA) women (n = 21) compared to women with dyspareunia (dys) (n = 44) exhibited insecure attachment styles, as expressed by high levels of avoidance (SA 4.10 ± 0.99 vs. dys 3.08 ± 1.04, t(61) = 2.66, p = .01) and anxiety (SA 4.29 ± 1.22 vs. dys 3.49 ± 1.04, t(61) = 3.61, p = .001), and higher somatization (21.00 ± 8.25 vs. 13.07 ± 7.57, t(59) = 3.63, p = .001). Attachment and somatization level did not differ significantly between women with dyspareunia without trauma to those with nonsexual trauma. Conclusions Our findings emphasized the unique role of sexual trauma as a contributing factor to the augmentation of perceived bodily symptoms and to insecure attachment style. This illuminates the importance of disclosing previous sexual abuse history among women with dyspareunia.
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Özen B, Özdemir YÖ, Beştepe EE. Childhood trauma and dissociation among women with genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2018; 14:641-646. [PMID: 29503548 PMCID: PMC5827676 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s151920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Causes such as childhood trauma, negative attitude about sexuality, inadequate sexual knowledge and education, relationship problems, and unconscious motivation are reported about psychosexual development in the etiology of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPP/PD). There are few studies that focus directly on research etiology of GPP/PD and use structured scales. The aim of this study was to research childhood trauma and dissociation forms among women with GPP/PD. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-five women with GPP/PD according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and 61 healthy women with no complaints of sexual function as a control group, in the age range of 18-60 years, were included in this study. Sociodemographic data form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) were administered to all participants. RESULTS Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect scores, which comprise the subgroups of CTQ, were found high among women with GPP/PD compared with the control group (p=0.003, p=0.006, p=0.001). While a significant difference between the two groups' SDQ scores was obtained (p=0.000), no significant difference was detected between the two groups' DES scores (p=0.392). DISCUSSION The results evoke the question are genitopelvic pain conditions, vaginismus and dyspareunia, that cannot be explained with a medical cause and that cause penetration disorder, a kind of dissociative symptom prone to develop in some women with childhood psychogenic trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beliz Özen
- Erenköy Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Y Özay Özdemir
- Erenköy Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - E Emrem Beştepe
- Erenköy Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
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Tapia G, Marquebieille C, Delile JM, Othily E, Perez-Dandieu B. Symptômes dissociatifs et conduites à risques dans un cas de trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT) comorbide d’un trouble lié à l’usage de substances (TUS). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Diab SY, Isosävi S, Qouta SR, Kuittinen S, Punamäki RL. The protective role of maternal posttraumatic growth and cognitive trauma processing among Palestinian mothers and infants. Infant Behav Dev 2017; 50:284-299. [PMID: 28619421 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Revised: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
War survivors use multiple cognitive and emotional processes to protect their mental health from the negative impacts of trauma. Because mothers and infants may be especially vulnerable to trauma in conditions of war, it is urgent to determine which cognitive and emotional processes are effective for preventing negative trauma impacts." This study examined whether mothers' high posttraumatic growth (PTG) and positive posttraumatic cognitions (PTC) protected (a) their own mental health and (b) their infants' stress regulation and sensorimotor and language development from the effects of war trauma. The participants were 511 Palestinian mothers and their infants living in the Gaza strip. The mothers were interviewed in their second trimester of pregnancy (T1) as well as when the infant was four months (T2) and twelve months (T3). Mothers reported posttraumatic growth (PTG; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) at T1 and posttraumatic cognitions (PTCI; Foa et al., 1999) at T2. They also reported their exposure to traumatic war events both at T1 and T3 and described their mental health conditions (e.g., PTSD and/or depressive and dissociation symptoms) at T3. The Infant Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ) was used to measure infants' stress regulation at T2 and sensorimotor and language development at T3. The results, based on regression analyses with interaction terms between trauma and PTG, showed that high levels of traumatic war events were not associated with high levels of PTSD, depressive, or dissociation symptoms among mothers showing high levels of PTG. This suggests that PTG may protect maternal mental health from the effects of trauma. In turn, positive maternal PTCs appeared to protect the infants' stress regulation from the effects of war trauma. The study concludes by discussing ways to develop and implement preventive interventions for mother-infant dyads in war conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safwat Y Diab
- Al Quds Open University, Department of Educational Psychology, Gaza Strip, Palestine
| | - Sanna Isosävi
- University of Tampere, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland
| | - Samir R Qouta
- Islamic University Gaza, Department of Education and Psychology, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Saija Kuittinen
- University of Tampere, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland
| | - Raija-Leena Punamäki
- University of Tampere, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland; Universidad de Sevilla, Facultad de Psicología, Departemento de Psicologia Evolutiva y de la Education, Spain.
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Punamäki RL, Isosävi S, Qouta SR, Kuittinen S, Diab SY. War trauma and maternal-fetal attachment predicting maternal mental health, infant development, and dyadic interaction in Palestinian families. Attach Hum Dev 2017; 19:463-486. [PMID: 28556692 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1330833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Optimal maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) is believed to be beneficial for infant well-being and dyadic interaction, but research is scarce in general and among risk populations. Our study involved dyads living in war conditions and examined how traumatic war trauma associates with MFA and which factors mediate that association. It also modeled the role of MFA in predicting newborn health, infant development, mother-infant interaction, and maternal postpartum mental health. Palestinian women from the Gaza Strip (N = 511) participated during their second trimester (T1), and when their infants were 4 (T2) and 12 (T3) months. Mothers reported MFA (interaction with, attributions to, and fantasies about the fetus), social support, and prenatal mental health (post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety) at T1, newborn health at T2, and the postpartum mental health, infant's sensorimotor and language development, and mother-infant interaction (emotional availability) at T3. Results revealed, first, that war trauma was not directly associated with MFA but that it was mediated through a low level of social support and high level of maternal prenatal mental health problems. Second, intensive MFA predicted optimal mother-reported infant's sensorimotor and language development and mother-infant emotional availability but not newborn health or maternal postpartum mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raija-Leena Punamäki
- a Department of Psychology , School of Social Science and Humanities, University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.,b Department of Psychologia Evolutiva and Education , University of Sevilla , Sevilla , Spain
| | - Sanna Isosävi
- a Department of Psychology , School of Social Science and Humanities, University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland
| | - Samir R Qouta
- c Department of Education and Psychology , Islamic University Gaza , Gaza City , Palestine
| | - Saija Kuittinen
- a Department of Psychology , School of Social Science and Humanities, University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland
| | - Safwat Y Diab
- d Department of Educational Psychology , Al Quds Open University , Gaza Strip , Palestine
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Abstract
Abstract
The 20-item Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20; Nijenhuis, Spinhoven, Van Dyck, Van der Hart, & Van-derlinden, 1996) evaluates the severity of somatoform dissociation. The SDQ-20 items were derived from a pool of 75 items describing clinically observed somatoform dissociative symptoms that in clinical settings had appeared upon reactivation of particular dissociative parts of the personality and that could not be medically explained. The SDQ-20 scores were best predicted by self-reported physical and sexual traumatization in patients with dissociative disorders and psychiatric controls (Nijenhuis et al., 1998c), even after statistically controlling for self-reported emotional traumatization (emotional neglect and emotional abuse). These traumatization scores were composed of four factors, i.e. presence of trauma, duration of trauma, relationship to perpetrator, and subjectively rated impact of trauma.
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Abstract
Abstract
Many traumatized individuals alternate between re-experiencing their trauma and being detached from, or even relatively unaware of the trauma and its effects. At first sight one may be inclined to conceptualize detachment from trauma and re-experiencing of trauma as mental states. However, on closer scrutiny it becomes apparent that in both cases a range or cluster of states rather than a singular state is involved. For example, being detached from trauma does not itself exclude being joyful, ashamed, sexually aroused, or curious at times, and re-experiencing trauma can encompass states such as fleeing, freezing, and being in pain or being analgesic. In this paper we relate detachment from trauma and re-experiencing trauma to emotional operating systems (Panksepp, 1998) and functional systems (Fanselow & Lester, 1988), briefly addressed as action systems. Action systems control a range of functions, but some are more complex than others. Reexperiencing trauma will be associated with the inborn and evolutionary derived defensive system that is evoked by severe threat, in particular threat to the integrity of the body. As a complex system, it encompasses various subsystems, such as flight, freeze, and fight. Detachment from trauma, in our view, is associated with several action systems (Panksepp, 1998), i.e., the ones that control functions in daily life (e.g., exploration of the environment, energy control), and the ones that are dedicated to survival of the species (e.g., reproduction, attachment to and care for offspring). In this context we will maintain that severe threat may provoke a structural dissociation of the premorbid personality (Van der Hart, 2000). In its primary form this dissociation is between the defensive system on one hand, and the systems that involve managing daily life and survival of the species on the other hand. To summarize the essence of the theory of structural dissociation of the personality, we argue (1) that traumatic experiences, especially when they occur early in life and involve severe threat to the integrity of the body, may activate psychobiological action systems that have been developed by evolution, and (2) that due to extreme stress levels and classical as well as evaluative conditioning to traumatic memories these systems may remain unintegrated to varying degrees.
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Osório FL, Carvalho ACF, Donadon MF, Moreno AL, Polli-Neto O. Chronic pelvic pain, psychiatric disorders and early emotional traumas: Results of a cross sectional case-control study. World J Psychiatry 2016; 6:339-344. [PMID: 27679773 PMCID: PMC5031934 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v6.i3.339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To compare the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and early emotional traumas between women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and healthy women.
METHODS One hundred women in reproductive age, 50 of them had CPP (according to the criteria set by the International Association for Study of Pain), and 50 were considered healthy after the gynecological evaluation. The eligibility criteria were defined as follows: chronic or persistent pain perceived in the pelvis-related structures (digestive, urinary, genital, myofascial or neurological systems). Only women in reproductive age with acyclic pain for 6 mo, or more, were included in the present study. Menopause was the exclusion criterion. The participants were grouped according to age, school level and socio-economic status and were individually assessed through DSM-IV Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I) and Early Trauma Inventory Self-report - short form (ETISR-SF Brazilian version). Descriptive statistics, group comparison tests and multivariate logistics regression were used in the data analysis.
RESULTS The early emotional traumas are highly prevalent, but their prevalence did not differ between the two groups. The current Major Depressive Disorder was more prevalent in women with CPP. The CPP was associated with endometriosis in 48% of the women. There was no difference in the prevalence of disorders when endometriosis was taken into account (endometriosis vs other diseases: P > 0.29). The current Major Depressive Disorder and the Bipolar Disorder had greater occurrence likelihood in the group of women with CPP (ODDS = 5.25 and 9.0).
CONCLUSION The data reinforce the link between mood disorders and CPP. The preview evidences about the association between CPP and early traumas tended not to be significant after a stronger methodological control was implemented.
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26
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Childhood trauma and dissociation in tertiary care patients with migraine and tension type headache: a controlled study. J Psychosom Res 2014; 77:40-4. [PMID: 24913340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were: i) to compare the severity of somatoform and psychoform dissociation and childhood trauma among migraine patients, tension-type headache patients (TTH), and healthy controls; and, ii) to identify any relationships between headache characteristics and dissociative symptoms and traumatic childhood experiences among tertiary care patients with headache. METHODS The study sample consisted of 79 patients with migraine, 49 patients with TTH and 40 healthy controls. They completed the socio-demographic form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS The average score for childhood emotional abuse was significantly higher in the TTH and migraine patients than in healthy controls; mean scores for emotional neglect and physical abuse were higher in TTH patients than healthy controls; and the total CTQ score was higher in TTH patients than in either migraine patients or healthy controls. Average DES scores were significantly higher in TTH patients versus migraine patients and controls; and SDQ scores were higher in both headache groups than in controls. Headache duration and severity were found to be significantly related to childhood abuse scores among migraine but not TTH patients. CONCLUSION Our findings support the evidence of a relationship between childhood trauma and migraines, and suggest that childhood traumatic events are common and deleteriously effect migraine characteristics. Also our study suggests that childhood trauma may have a role in TTH. Significant differences in the DES and SDQ scores between groups may be explained by the differences in childhood trauma experiences.
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27
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Kilic O, Sar V, Taycan O, Aksoy-Poyraz C, Erol TC, Tecer O, Emul MH, Ozmen M. Dissociative depression among women with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. J Trauma Dissociation 2014; 15:285-302. [PMID: 24228798 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2013.844218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to inquire about the possible relations of childhood trauma, anger, and dissociation to depression among women with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. Fifty female patients diagnosed as having fibromyalgia (n = 30) or rheumatoid arthritis (n = 20) participated in the study. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ), Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule were administered to all participants. Women with a lifetime diagnosis of depressive disorder had higher scores for somatoform and psychoform dissociation than the nondepressive patients. However, childhood trauma scores did not differ between the 2 groups. In regression analysis, current severity of depression (BDI) was predicted by psychoform dissociation (DIS-Q) and lower education, and lifetime diagnosis of major depression was predicted by somatoform dissociation (SDQ). Whereas childhood emotional neglect predicted somatoform dissociation, psychoform dissociation was predicted by childhood sexual abuse. Mental processing of anger seems to be 1 of the dimensions of psychodynamics in trauma-related depressive conditions. In the context of the perceived threat of loss of control due to expressed anger and mental disintegration, somatoform dissociation seems to contribute to overmodulation of emotions in dissociative depression. Among patients suffering from physical illness with possible psychosomatic dimensions, assessment of somatoform dissociation in addition to psychoform dissociation may be helpful to understand diverse psychopathological trajectories emerging in the aftermath of childhood adversities. The recently proposed category of "dissociative depression" (Sar, 2011) seems to be a promising concept for future research on psychosomatic aspects of traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Kilic
- a Department of Psychiatry , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey
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28
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Spiegel D, Lewis-Fernández R, Lanius R, Vermetten E, Simeon D, Friedman M. Dissociative Disorders in DSM-5. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2013; 9:299-326. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Spiegel
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94304-5718;
| | | | - Ruth Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, London Health Sciences Center, London, N6A 5A5 ON Canada;
| | - Eric Vermetten
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Netherlands;
| | - Daphne Simeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10025;
| | - Matthew Friedman
- Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755;
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Seng J, Miller J, Sperlich M, van de Ven CJM, Brown S, Carter CS, Liberzon I. Exploring dissociation and oxytocin as pathways between trauma exposure and trauma-related hyperemesis gravidarum: a test-of-concept pilot. J Trauma Dissociation 2013; 14:40-55. [PMID: 23282046 PMCID: PMC3539231 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2012.694594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with gastrointestinal and genitourinary comorbidities. These map onto the somatization disorder symptoms in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( American Psychiatric Association, 1994 ) and the dissociative (conversion) disorders symptoms in the International Classification of Diseases taxonomy ( World Health Organization, 2007 ). Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is one of these symptoms and a gastrointestinal comorbidity of PTSD occurring in pregnancy. It is an idiopathic condition defined as severe vomiting with dehydration, metabolic imbalance, wasting, and hospital care seeking. HG is more severe than the normative phenomenon of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. This test-of-concept pilot (N = 25) explored the hypothesis that there is a trauma-related subtype of HG characterized by (a) high levels of dissociative symptoms and (b) altered plasma concentrations of oxytocin. This hypothesis is informed by a theory of posttraumatic oxytocin dysregulation that posits altered oxytocin function as a mechanism of gut smooth muscle peristalsis dysfunction. A 4-group analysis compared controls with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NV only) and cases with HG only, NV and PTSD, or HG and PTSD. Oxytocin was correlated with the nausea and vomiting symptom severity score (r = .464, p = .019) and with the dissociation symptom score (r = .570, p = .003). Women in the group with both PTSD and HG (the trauma-related HG subtype) had the highest levels of dissociation and the highest levels of oxytocin. A linear regression model indicated that the independent association of the trauma-related HG subtype with oxytocin level was mediated by high levels of dissociative symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Seng
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Nelson S, Baldwin N, Taylor J. Mental health problems and medically unexplained physical symptoms in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse: an integrative literature review. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2012; 19:211-20. [PMID: 22070785 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01772.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
People sexually abused in childhood are at higher risk than non-abused people of medically unexplained symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome or chronic pain, with mental ill health and high healthcare use. Friction and frustration, with high, unproductive healthcare costs, can often develop between these patients and health-care professionals such as general practitioners and nursing staff. The aim of this integrative literature review was to seek a sound evidence base from which to develop helpful interventions, improve relationships and identify gaps in knowledge. It found some theories about interconnections among childhood sexual abuse mental health and medically unexplained symptoms, such as 'somatization' or 'secondary gain', were used prejudicially, stigmatizing survivors. Conflicting theories make more difficult the search for effective interventions. Researchers rarely collaborated with sexual abuse specialists. Emphasis on identifying key risk factors, rather than providing support or alleviating distress, and lack of studies where survivors voiced their own experiences, meant very few targeted interventions for this group were proposed. Recommendations to enable effective interventions include making abuse survivors the prime study focus; qualitative research with survivors, to assist doctors and nursing staff with sensitive care; case histories using medical records; prospective studies with sexually abused children; support for the growing field of neurobiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nelson
- Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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31
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Farina B, Mazzotti E, Pasquini P, Nijenhuis E, Di Giannantonio M. Somatoform and psychoform dissociation among students. J Clin Psychol 2011; 67:665-72. [PMID: 21433009 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests a relationship between psychoform and somatoform dissociation both in clinical and non clinical samples. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the two forms of dissociation among 947 university students who completed two self-administered questionnaires, the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). The main result of the study was that the association between somatoform and psychoform dissociation was strong for individuals with moderate level of DES scores (O.R.=7.0), but much stronger for individuals with high level of DES scores (O.R.=18.9).
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Baslet G, Hill J. Case Report: Brief Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapeutic Intervention During Inpatient Hospitalization in a Patient With Conversion and Dissociation. Clin Case Stud 2011. [DOI: 10.1177/1534650110396359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Conversion and dissociative disorders have psychopathological mechanisms in common and can simultaneously be present in the same patient. Evidence-based treatments for conversion and dissociative disorders are limited and mostly focused on cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) for a few conversion disorders. Avoidance and difficulties in emotion expression are thought to explain conversion and hence, mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) could hypothetically constitute a beneficial intervention. Here, we present the case of Anne, a 31-year-old female with a long-term history of depression, anxiety, and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). While facing health-related and marital stressors, Anne acutely developed conversion left-sided paralysis, psychogenic bilateral tremor, and dissociative amnesia and had an increase in PNES frequency. Some of these newly developed symptoms resolved and other improved significantly after an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention was offered during a brief inpatient hospitalization. This constitutes the first report of an ACT-based intervention used in this type of clinical syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James Hill
- Morita School of Japanese Psychology, Riverside, Illinois, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago
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Farina B, Mazzotti E, Pasquini P, Mantione MG. Somatoform and psychoform dissociation among women with orgasmic and sexual pain disorders. J Trauma Dissociation 2011; 12:526-34. [PMID: 21967179 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2011.598124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Since the 20th century, psychogenic female sexual dysfunctions (FSD), like some somatoform and conversion disorders, have been considered an expression of somatoform dissociation. Several studies have reported dissociative symptoms in different somatoform and conversion disorders, but limited data are available on dissociation among patients with FSD. The aim of this study was to assess somatoform and psychoform dissociation among patients with women's orgasmic disorder, dyspareunia, and vaginismus. A battery of self-administered questionnaires (Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised) was given to 200 gynecological outpatients to assess psychoform and somatoform dissociation and their association with FSD. A strong association between somatoform dissociation and FSD was observed (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-25.32), the association between somatoform and psychoform dissociation being estimated by an adjusted OR of 4.83 (95% CI = 1.17-19.91). Our results are compatible with the idea that some forms of FSD could be regarded as somatoform dissociative disorders.
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Baslet G. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: a model of their pathogenic mechanism. Seizure 2010; 20:1-13. [PMID: 21106406 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2010.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Revised: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 10/25/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) consist of paroxystic events facilitated by a dysfunction in emotion processing. Models explaining the pathogenic mechanisms leading to these seizure-like episodes are limited. In this article, evidence that supports dysfunction at the level of arousal tolerance, cognitive-emotional information processing and volitional control is reviewed. A hypothetical pathophysiological mechanism is discussed based on functional neuroimaging evidence from PNES-related conditions and traits. This pathophysiological model suggests an alteration in the influence and connection of brain areas involved in emotion processing onto other brain areas responsible for sensorimotor and cognitive processes. Integrating this information, PNES are conceptualized as brief episodes facilitated by an unstable cognitive-emotional attention system. During the episodes, sensorimotor and cognitive processes are modified or not properly integrated, allowing the deployment of autonomous prewired behavioral tendencies. Finally, I elaborate on how therapeutic applications could be modified based on the proposed hypothetical model, potentially improving clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaston Baslet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 912 South Wood Street, M/C 913, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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35
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Abstract
AIM This paper is a report of a study of the relationship of post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, and health status to high risk pregnancy status in survivors of childhood sexual abuse. BACKGROUND Studies examining the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse have delineated diverse psychological, cognitive, and social difficulties in adult survivors that often manifest somatically. METHODS A random sample of 1835 mid-pregnant Jewish women was recruited in Israel over an 18-month period in 2005-2007. Participants were divided into three sub-groups consisting of the different combinations between pregnancy at risk (yes/no), childhood sexual abuse (yes/no), other than childhood sexual abuse trauma (yes no), and no trauma (yes/no). They completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of five scales: a demographic variables scale, the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Traumatic Events Questionnaire, and Childhood Sexual Experiences Scale. FINDINGS Pregnant survivors of childhood sexual abuse suffered higher distress levels which heightened poor health, hence increasing the probability of high risk pregnancy compared to women who had had other than sexual abuse trauma or reported no trauma. Post traumatic stress symptoms and avoidance (a sub-category) were found to explain chronic illnesses, whereas depression was found to explain gynecological problems in pregnant sexually-abused survivors. CONCLUSION Healthcare workers need to recognize and address the psychological state of pregnant child sexual abuse survivors. Screening of pregnant women for child sexual abuse is needed to assess survivors' psychological well-being and recognize their unique concerns during pregnancy monitoring.
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Profil clinique et psychopathologique des femmes victimes de violences conjugales psychologiques. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2009; 57:267-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.respe.2009.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2009] [Accepted: 04/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Spitzer C, Barnow S, Gau K, Freyberger HJ, Grabe HJ. Childhood maltreatment in patients with somatization disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2008; 42:335-41. [PMID: 18330776 DOI: 10.1080/00048670701881538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is converging evidence indicating a close association between trauma, particularly childhood trauma, and adult somatization, but studies using both structured interviews and self-report measures to assess childhood adversities in patients with somatization disorder are scarce. METHODS A total of 28 patients (82% women, mean age=41.7+/-10.1 years) meeting DSM-IV criteria for somatization disorder as confirmed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Axis I (SCID-I) underwent the Structured Trauma Interview (STI) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The comparison group consisted of 28 patients with major depression, but without a lifetime diagnosis of somatization disorder matched for gender and age. RESULTS Univariate analyses of both the STI and the CTQ data showed that somatizing patients had been exposed to childhood sexual and physical abuse significantly more often than major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. In logistic regression analysis with somatization disorder as the dependent variable, sexual abuse emerged as the only significant predictor, and the odds of having been sexually abused were ninefold higher in patients with somatization disorders relative to MDD subjects (odds ratio=9.39; 95% confidence interval=1.73-50.96). There were no differences between somatizing and depressed participants with respect to other types of maltreatment. CONCLUSION Childhood sexual abuse is an important factor in the multifactorial aetiopathogenesis of somatization disorder. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Spitzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald am HANSE-Klinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany.
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Walsh CA, Jamieson E, Macmillan H, Boyle M. Child abuse and chronic pain in a community survey of women. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2007; 22:1536-1554. [PMID: 17993640 DOI: 10.1177/0886260507306484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between a self-reported history of child physical and sexual abuse and chronic pain among women (N = 3,381) in a provincewide community sample. Chronic pain was significantly associated with physical abuse, education, and age of the respondents and was unrelated to child sexual abuse alone or in combination with physical abuse, mental disorder (anxiety, depression, or substance abuse), or low income. Number of health problems and mental health disorders did not mediate the relationship between physical abuse and chronic pain. Despite considerable evidence from the clinical literature linking exposure to child maltreatment and chronic pain in adulthood, this may well be the first population-based study to investigate this relationship for child physical and sexual abuse independently. The significant association between childhood history of physical abuse and pain in adulthood calls for a greater awareness of the potential for chronic pain problems associated with this type of maltreatment. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism for this complex relationship.
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Abstract
Chronic unexplained pain may be a somatic manifestation of psychological distress - often untreated distress. The association between psychic trauma, posttraumatic symptoms, psychic dissociation, and somatoform disorders is currently well documented. When examining a patient with chronic pain syndrome, it is important to consider its psychic dimension early on and to look for a history of psychic trauma. This can help avoid prolonged chronic effects and the emergence of psychiatric comorbidity. There is currently no consensual medication strategy for treatment of unexplained chronic pain syndrome. Multidisciplinary outpatient management is necessary in these complex cases, which require simultaneous medical and psychiatric referrals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wissam El-Hage
- Clinique psychiatrique universitaire, CHRU, Tours (37); Université François Rabelais, EA 3248 Psychobiologie des émotions et IFR 135, Tours (37).
| | - Céline Lamy
- Clinique psychiatrique universitaire, CHRU, Tours (37)
| | | | - Philippe Gaillard
- Clinique psychiatrique universitaire, CHRU, Tours (37); Université François Rabelais, EA 3248 Psychobiologie des émotions et IFR 135, Tours (37)
| | - Vincent Camus
- Clinique psychiatrique universitaire, CHRU, Tours (37); Université François Rabelais, EA 3248 Psychobiologie des émotions et IFR 135, Tours (37)
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Spinhoven P, Roelofs K, Moene F, Kuyk J, Nijenhuis E, Hoogduin K, Van Dyck R. Trauma and dissociation in conversion disorder and chronic pelvic pain. Int J Psychiatry Med 2005; 34:305-18. [PMID: 15825581 DOI: 10.2190/ydk2-c66w-cl6l-n5tk] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to: a) assess the link between sexual and/or physical abuse and dissociation in conversion disorder and chronic pelvic pain patients; and b) assess whether this effect is independent of level of general psychopathology. METHOD This report examines data from four separate samples. Fifty-two patients with chronic pelvic pain, 61 patients with non-epileptic seizures, and two samples of patients (102 and 54) with predominantly motor or sensory types of conversion disorder were studied. RESULTS Using point-biserial correlations no compelling evidence for a consistent and positive association of sexual and/or physical abuse with dissociation was found. After statistically controlling for level of psychopathology using multiple regression analyses, in most of the cases the association of abuse with dissociation was no longer statistically significant. Only physical abuse predicted level of somatoform dissociation over and above level of psychopathology. CONCLUSION In future clinical studies of dissociation in patients with conversion disorder and chronic pelvic pain more complex models may be needed with less exclusive reliance on historical antecedents such as childhood abuse and more emphasis on recent potentially traumatizing experiences or co-morbid psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Spinhoven
- Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Section of Clinical and Health Psychology, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
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Maaranen P, Tanskanen A, Honkalampi K, Haatainen K, Hintikka J, Viinamäki H. Factors associated with pathological dissociation in the general population. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2005; 39:387-94. [PMID: 15860027 DOI: 10.1080/j.1440-1614.2005.01586.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assessed the prevalence of pathological dissociation in the general population, and the relationship between pathological dissociation and sociodemographic and several psychiatric variables. METHOD The stratified population sample consisted of 2001 subjects. The study questionnaires included the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Dissociative Experiences Scale-Taxon, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and sociodemographic background. RESULTS The prevalence of pathological dissociation (DES-T >/= 20) was 3.4% in the general population and did not differ significantly between genders. Men scored higher than women in the amnesia subscale, and women in the absorption and imaginative involvement subscale. The relationship between pathological dissociation, alexithymia, depression and suicidality was strong. The likelihood of pathological dissociation was nearly nine-fold higher among depressive subjects, more than seven-fold higher among alexithymic subjects, and more than four-fold higher among suicidal subjects than among the others. Frequent alcohol consumption also associated significantly with pathological dissociation. CONCLUSIONS A significant relationship between pathological dissociation, depression, alexithymia, and suicidality was found in the general population. The importance of these factors should be examined in a prospective study design to determine causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Päivi Maaranen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
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Nijenhuis ERS, van der Hart O, Kruger K, Steele K. Somatoform dissociation, reported abuse and animal defence-like reactions. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2004; 38:678-86. [PMID: 15324331 DOI: 10.1080/j.1440-1614.2004.01441.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the hypotheses that among general psychiatric outpatients, somatoform dissociation is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and with reported potentially traumatizing events, especially with events that involve bodily threat from a person, also when reported age at onset, duration and subjectively rated impact of potentially traumatizing events are considered. METHOD Administration of self-report questionnaires evaluating the severity of somatoform and psychoform dissociation, posttraumatic stress-symptoms, and reported traumatizing events, using samples of consecutive and unselected psychiatric outpatients (n = 153). RESULTS Somatoform dissociation was strongly correlated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and with reported cumulative traumatization as assessed with two different self-report trauma questionnaires. Among a wide range of trauma types, bodily threat from a person best predicted somatoform dissociation. Emotional neglect and age further improved the prediction, but emotional neglect and abuse did not predict somatoform dissociation when interpersonal threat to the body was not reported. Somatoform dissociation was also best predicted by bodily threat when reported age at onset, duration and subjective impact of reported traumatization were included in the analyses. CONCLUSION This retrospective study suggests that recurrent interpersonal bodily threat may evoke animal defence-like psychobiological systems manifesting as somatoform dissociation and that this type of threat is often accompanied by emotional neglect. These hypotheses should now be tested in prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellert R S Nijenhuis
- Outpatient Department, Mental Health Care Drenthe, PO Box 30007, 9400 RA Assen, The Netherlands.
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