Depersonalisation /Derealisation (DP/DR) has been an object of interest in clinical psychology for many years, with its exact causes still uncertain and debated. As part of a pilot study for a...Show moreDepersonalisation /Derealisation (DP/DR) has been an object of interest in clinical psychology for many years, with its exact causes still uncertain and debated. As part of a pilot study for a larger study, this paper attempts to integrate information from previous studies to link DP/DR to disrupted interoceptive processes, indicated through a disruption in the sense of presence in the real world and decreased heart rate variability (HRV). By using a virtual reality (VR) experience to induce an altered state of consciousness, data from questionnaires and electrocardiogram (ECG) measures were used to determine the relations between the sense of presence and HRV, depending on whether attention was directed, or the participant was allowed to fully immerse themselves in the experience. While no significant results were found, the limitation of a small sample size does not necessarily imply the rejection of the theoretical assumptions shaping the proposed hypothesis, and trends in the data may reflect the theoretical background.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
closed access
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative symptoms often co-occur. Yet, the symptom interrelations between PTSD and dissociation have not been disentangled. The timing and type of...Show morePosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative symptoms often co-occur. Yet, the symptom interrelations between PTSD and dissociation have not been disentangled. The timing and type of traumatic events have been suggested to play crucial roles in the comorbidity between PTSD and dissociative symptoms. Therefore, partial correlations between PTSD, dissociative symptoms, and adverse childhood maltreatment (ACE) were investigated in two regularized partial correlation networks. Online self-report responses from participants (N = 495) of an overarching study on domestic violence were used. Symptoms and maltreatment types were assessed with the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist DSM-5, the Dissociation Experience Scale-II, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. The first network analysis included nine nodes (four PTSD symptoms, three dissociation symptoms, two assumed confounders). The second analysis additionally considered five ACE types. The network exploration revealed few and weak connections between PTSD and dissociation. Regardless of the bridge strength, absorption/imagination and hyperarousal showed to be hubs linking PTSD and dissociative symptoms. Adding ACE barely changed the bridges between PTSD and dissociative symptoms. Amnesia appeared to be a hub for connecting dissociative symptoms to ACE. Emotional abuse was the only maltreatment type connected to the PTSD symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that PTSD and dissociation are largely independent constructs and hint towards separate diagnostic entities. The study was limited by the sample’s subclinical symptoms and maltreatment scores. This limitation may also be partly responsible for the poorly connected network. Prospective studies with clinical samples are needed to further investigate the interplay between PTSD, dissociation, and ACE.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
under embargo until 2025-01-31
2025-01-31T00:00:00Z
Dissociation is a complex trans-diagnostic phenomenon, which ranges from normative to pathological. There are multiple ways of measuring and categorising dissociation, and different theories as to...Show moreDissociation is a complex trans-diagnostic phenomenon, which ranges from normative to pathological. There are multiple ways of measuring and categorising dissociation, and different theories as to the aetiology and function of dissociation in psychological disorders. People with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) experience more dissociation than healthy controls and other personality disorders, and dissociation is associated with other key features of BPD. Despite this, dissociation in BPD is poorly understood. It is unclear which types of dissociation manifest in BPD, in which situations, and the function that dissociation achieves. The aim of this study was to investigate the form and function of dissociation in BPD, by identifying themes across personal narratives. A thematic analysis was performed on narratives of dissociative experiences assessed within a script-driven imagery approach. The predominant forms of dissociation were depersonalisation and derealisation. Dissociation occurred in interpersonal and threatening situations, tended to follow negative affect, and was accompanied by physical reactions consistent with sympathetic nervous system activation. Dissociation functioned as psychological escape from internal experiences or external situations. These themes are discussed within the context of prominent theories of BPD and dissociation. These findings are in line with the idea that dissociation in BPD acts as a protective mechanism against high sensitivity and reactivity to affective and interpersonal experiences in the place of normative regulation skills. This paper concludes that dissociation in BPD offers psychological escape from intolerable experiences, and is related to a low threshold for threat perception and threat response mobilisation.Show less
Introduction: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a highly prevalent issue in our society that includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. CM can lead to...Show moreIntroduction: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a highly prevalent issue in our society that includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. CM can lead to various negative consequences, such as dissociation. Known subtypes are amnestic dissociation, absorption and depersonalization/derealization. There is ample empirical evidence supporting sexual and physical abuse leading to dissociation, but rarely do studies focus on all facets of the variables. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the different types of CM and dissociation taking post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a mediator into account. Methods: Using an online self-report survey, CM, dissociation and PTSD were assessed cross-sectionally among a sample recruited on online platforms for domestic violence via Leiden University (N=432). Obtained data were analyzed by performing a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and mediation analysis (PROCESS macro). Results: The results support the notion to use all subscales of both variables, as sexual abuse and physical neglect were significantly associated with amnestic dissociation, while sexual abuse, physical neglect and emotional abuse were significant predictors of derealization/depersonalization; physical neglect had a significant relationship with absorption. PTSD was a significant mediator but it did not fully explain the link between CM and dissociation. Discussion: Future studies should focus on using clinical samples and longitudinal designs to gain deeper knowledge into therapeutic implications. Integrating the findings of our paper is an important step to better understand the types of CM, dissociation and the importance of PTSD.Show less
Introduction: Traumatic experiences may lead to pathological dissociation. Three components of dissociation can be distinguished: absorption, depersonalization, and amnesia. Especially maltreated...Show moreIntroduction: Traumatic experiences may lead to pathological dissociation. Three components of dissociation can be distinguished: absorption, depersonalization, and amnesia. Especially maltreated children are at risk for developing dissociative symptoms. Several studies support a relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM) and dissociation, but previous research often does not differentiate between different types of CM in relation to the different types of dissociation. Hence, this study explored whether different types of CM could predict different types of dissociation. Method: using an online survey, self-reported experiences of CM and dissociation were cross-sectionally assessed among a sample from the general population (N = 549). Multiple regressions were performed in order to investigate whether the different types of CM were predictors for the different types of dissociation. Results: the regression for CM and dissociation, with gender as a covariate, was significant. Emotional abuse and emotional neglect significantly predicted any type of dissociation, and specifically depersonalization; emotional abuse and sexual abuse significantly predicted absorption, with gender as a covariate; physical neglect and sexual abuse significantly predicted amnesia. Discussion: the findings fit previous research concerning the relationship between CM and dissociation, although more research is needed to investigate the specific role of emotional maltreatment in regard to other types of CM and how it is related to dissociation.Show less
The literary phenomena of segmentation in La vie mode d'emploi makes the reader purposely suffer in a way similar to Perec, in relation to his traumatic and problematic past. With the help of...Show moreThe literary phenomena of segmentation in La vie mode d'emploi makes the reader purposely suffer in a way similar to Perec, in relation to his traumatic and problematic past. With the help of psychoanalytical notions such as "defense mechanisms", "transference", "counter-transference", "trauma"; and terms from contemporary cognitive behavioural sources, I corroborate this assertion. As memories are necessary according to Freud for a bereavement process, Perec lacks them, and therefore this process would not be possible. Nevertheless, I show that contemporary ideas about "dissociation", bereavement and auto-narrative, supports my claim that La vie mode d'emploi can be seen as a literary representation of a bereavement process.Show less
