Abstract:
Although dissociative symptoms are observed in several psychiatric
disorders and linked to antisocial behavior and offending,
the relation between dissociation and psychopathology or
comorbidity has not been consistently investigated in residential
youth yet. This brief report documented prevalence and
comorbidity rates of several psychiatric disorders and examined
their relation to dissociation in residential youth. The
study included 100 male adolescents (Mage = 16.51) admitted
to residential youth care facilities. Psychopathology was
assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric
Interview for children and adolescents (MINI-KID) and dissociation
was measured with the Adolescent Dissociative
Experiences Scale (A-DES). Externalizing problems (conduct
disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder) were the most prevalent (81%) followed by
substance abuse/dependence (71%), manic/hypomanic symptoms
(40%), anxiety (35%), and depression (33%). High comorbidity
was also observed in externalizing problems with
alcohol/substance abuse/dependence (67%), manic/hypomanic
symptoms (35%), depression (31%), and anxiety (30%).
Logistic regression analyses revealed a significant link between
dissociation and externalizing problems, depression, and
manic/hypomanic symptoms, as well as comorbid externalizing
problems and depression or manic/hypomanic symptoms.
The findings highlight the need to assess dissociation in order
to better understand the multifaceted individual profile of
residential youth and incorporate it in the treatment plan.