Psychological trauma at different developmental stages and ICD-11 CPTSD: The role of dissociation
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Date
2021-06-18
Authors
Jowett, Sally
Karatzias, Thanos
Shevlin, Mark
Hyland, Philip
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Background: Dissociation is commonly reported by individuals
who meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). However, the
association between the age of trauma exposure, dissociation,
and CPTSD is not well understood. This study aimed to test
whether dissociation mediated the relationship between the
developmental stage of trauma exposure and CPTSD symptoms.
Method: A nationally representative sample from Ireland
(N = 1020) completed self-report measures on trauma exposure
in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, current trauma symptomatology,
and dissociation symptoms. A mediation analysis was
conducted. Results: Childhood, adolescent, and adulthood trauma exposure
were all related to dissociation and ICD-11 CPTSD symptom
clusters. Dissociation mediated the effect of developmental
stage of trauma exposure on PTSD and disturbances in selforganization(
DSO). The direct and indirect effect models provided
the best fit of the data. Childhood trauma exposure was
the only developmental stage that was directly associated with
both PTSD and DSO symptoms in our sample. Conclusion: Dissociation mediates the relationship between
reported trauma exposure and the presence of ICD-11 CPTSD
symptom clusters, and this relationship appears at its strongest
when trauma occurs in childhood. CPTSD interventions should
also promote dissociation management to aid recovery from
this debilitating condition.
Description
17 pages
Keywords
dissociation, complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), trauma, childhood trauma, population
Citation
Sally Jowett, Thanos Karatzias, Mark Shevlin & Philip Hyland (2022) Psychological trauma at different developmental stages and ICD-11 CPTSD: The role of dissociation, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 23:1, 52-67, DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2021.1934936