REDUCTION IN DISSOCIATION DUE TO AGING AND COGNITIVE DEFICIT

Our objective was to investigate whether dissociative experiences occu r less frequently in older psychiatric patients than in younger adult patients, and to examine the role of cognitive deficits in the frequen cy of dissociative events. Fifty-two outpatients 60 years and older we re administered the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). Their scores were compared with those of 50 outpatients 35 to 55 years old. Each group included patients sampled f rom the Mental Health Center (MHC) and University Medical Center clini cs. Older patients showed significantly lower DES and MMSE median scor es than younger patients. Cognitive deficit reflected by reduced MMSE scores also was associated with reduced DES scores for younger and old er patients. Older patients with little or no cognitive deficit contin ued to show reduced DES scores. Decreases in dissociativity continue w ell beyond the fourth decade and do not rely on age-related cognitive deficit. Factors related to the aging process seem to mediate reductio ns in dissociativity independent of reductions mediated by cognitive d eficit. The use of the DES for screening without adjusting for age and cognitive status is questioned. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders C ompany