Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2 (June 1996)
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Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 110-117 : Measuring and discriminating dissociative and borderline symptomatology among women with eating disorders(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Gleaves, David H.; May, Mary C.; Eberenz, Kathleen P.To examine the reliability and validity of instruments designed to measure dissociative and borderline symptoms among persons with eating disorders, we administered two indices of dissociative symptoms along with two indices of borderline, depressive, and bulimic symptoms to a sample of 100 women diagnosed as having an eating disorder. We examined internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and factor structure of the instrument/constructs. There was a high degree of convergence between the two dissociation scales (r = .70) and moderate correlations between the dissociation scales and one of the borderline scales. However, the two borderline scales were not highly correlated with one another, calling into question their construct validity. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis also supported the validity of the dissociation scales but failed to identify a distinct borderline factor. These results supported the construct validity of the dissociation scales but failed to support the validity of the borderline scales.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 134-139 : Impact of childhood abuse on adult psychopathology: a case report(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Lubin, Hadar; Johnson, David Read; Southwick, Steven M.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder (BPD) and multiple personality disorder (MPD), although categorized separately in DSM-III-R under anxiety disorder, personality disorder, and dissociative disorder, respectively, have each been shown to be associated with early childhood abuse. Many authors have noted the importance of determining the relative impact of childhood trauma on the etiology of psychiatric illness, both from diagnostic and treatment perspectives. In this article, we will present the case of a multiply traumatized woman who satisfies criteria for all three disorders, providing support for the hypothesis that these three diagnoses may be viewed as separate phenotypic expressions of a common origin: childhood trauma. A hierarchical model of adaptation to childhood abuse is proposed to order the clinical data.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 130-133 : Social desirability and the dissociative experiences scale(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Beere, Don; Pica, Michael; Maurer, LaraThis study found no relationship between dissociativity and social desirability. In contrast to the assumptions of social enactment theory, the findings revealed that dissociativity, as measured by the DES, is independent of the need to respond in a culturally appropriate and acceptable manner, as measured by the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In addition, a measure of dissociative pathology (DES-T) showed no relationship to social desirability which suggests that reports of dissociation-related symptomatology to clinicians can be valid and not simply the result of attempts to win approval or gain attention. Both researchers and clinicians, therefore, should feel confident about using the DES as a measure of dissociation.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 125-129 : Reliability and validity of the adolescent dissociative experiences scale(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Smith, Steven R.; Carlson, Eve B.The Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) is designed to measure dissociation in adolescents (ages 11-17). The A-DES measures dissociation in four areas: dissociative amnesia, absorption and imaginative involvement, depersonalization and derealization, and passive influence. The present study was designed to establish A-DES norms for general population adolescents and to study aspects of the reliability and validity of the A-DES. Test-retest reliability was studied by testing one group of subjects twice, with a two-week interval between test administrations. Internal consistency was assessed by measuring the split-half reliability of the A-DES. Cronbach's alphas were calculated for the A-DES global score and four subscales. Results of these three analyses provide evidence for the reliability of the ADES. The concurrent validity of the A-DES was studied by correlating scores on the A-DES with scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) in a college sample. Results showed a high correlation between scores on these two measures. Overall, results indicate that the A-DES appears to have promise as a measure of dissociation in adolescents.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 118-124 : Dimensionality of dissociation in subjects with PTSD(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Amdur, Richard L.; Liberzon, IsraelDissociative symptoms are common in patients with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) is a self-report measure that is often used to assess these symptoms quantitatively. The present study examined the factor structure of the DES in a sample of 129 male combat veterans with PTSD. Quantitative and conceptual criteria were used to select a four-factor solution. One of the subscales (labeled Depersonalization/Derealization) was consistent with a scale found in an earlier factor analysis using a nonclinical subject sample. Three other factors included Memory Disturbance, Absorption, and Distractibility. While these scales are intercorrelated, they may measure conceptually distinct types of dissociative symptoms.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 104-109 : Recognizing bipolar illness in patients with dissociative identity disorder(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Wills, Sharon M.; Goodwin, Jean, 1946-Severe psychic distress and multiple symptoms are hallmarks of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and are central to many diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas for clinicians working in this field. Although comorbidities are commonplace in DID, cases in which Bipolar Illness (BPI) is comorbid with DID often escape detection because dissociative symptoms obscure and distort the individual's self-perception and self-report. In addition, the severe symptoms consistent with comorbid BPI are often misattributed to "known " borderline problems or major depression. This article describes in detail three cases in which the diagnosis of DID was well-documented and longstanding, and in which persistent symptoms led to a new diagnosis of comorbid BPI. In these individuals, undetected BPI had contributed to severe symptoms, ongoing risk of violence, and therapeutic chaos. The authors discuss problems in identifying comorbid BPI and circumstances which indicate that BPI should be included in the differential diagnosis.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 098-103 : Results of the dissociative experiences scale in a jail population(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Snow, Marilyn S.; Beckman, Darlene; Brack, GregoryThe Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES II) was administered to 305 inmates in a detention center (DC) in a suburban area of greater metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. There were 229 male inmates and 69 female inmates who completed the study. Results show that 25 % of the jail population scored 30 or higher on the DES II (24.4 % of males, 27.5 % of females). The mean score on the DESII for the entire population was 21.7 with 40% of the population scoring above 20. Findings suggest that dissociative disorders in a jail population may be prevalent. Further studies using the DES II are needed to determine the factors influencing dissociative states in a criminal population. Also, studies should be conducted to determine the extent to which dissociative states of inmates represent pathology as opposed to environmentally-induced defense mechanisms.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 089-097 : Types of dissociative behaviors observed in an urban jail: 25 months of participant observation(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Morgan, J.E.Little is known about the day-to-day dissociative behaviors manifested by inmates of correctional institutions. This article, based on 25 months of naive, continuous participant observation, describes five types of commonly observed dissociative behaviors that suggest that severe dissociative disorders may be common in inmates, and are also found in prison employees. The data come from an urban male and female maximum security correctional facility. The article discusses the differences in dissociative phenomena between the inmate and employee groups, the important elements in their behavioral patterns, and the traumatic events likely to have contributed to the dissociative behaviors. It suggests that correctional institutions can be viewed as unrecognized mental health facilities for dissociative disorders and considers how expertise in dissociative disorders can be integrated into their management.Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 087-088 : Editorial(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06) Kluft, Richard P., 1943-Item Open Access Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 000 : Cover, table of contents(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1996-06)